The exclamation point

I’m delighted to write about the exclamation point!  

This grammatical wonder is a handy tool that can enhance fundraising and other documents, when used strategically. Many serious writers have been proponents of the exclamation point, including James Joyce, Jane Austen, and Toni Morrison. Virginia Woolf “adored them”.  

Nevertheless, and surprisingly for such an innocuous sign of enthusiasm, too many exclamation points can just plain wear me down.

F. Scott Fitzgerald was ruthless on the matter: “An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.” Lydia Horne of Wired magazine says that tossing out [the exclamation point] helped her find more precise language to express her emotions. The University of Sussex website states: “…the exclamation mark is usually out of place in formal writing. ‘Using [it] frequently will give your work a breathless, almost childish, quality.’” 

What I do
I believe that, used judiciously, the exclamation point can draw attention to your statement and add pizzaz to your document. To guard against overuse, I:

• Continuously monitor my use of exclamation points while I’m writing.  
• Hunt through my completed draft in case I’ve missed any in earlier scrutiny. 
• Gauge my reaction. If an exclamation point aggravates me, it’s time for a sensible period. 

Redeeming features
Writing can reflect our personalities. The exclamation point suggests a writer with a sunny disposition. This can certainly be good for business. Here’s another take in which Emma Goldberg put the exclamation point in perspective: 

“[The exclamation point] just wants to Marie Kondo your sentences — to clear out a small space and spark some joy.” 

So, I’ll end on a joyful note by saying: Cheers to the sensibly used exclamation point!