Let’s Review What a Few Famous Writers Have Said About Exclamation Points

“Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

“But the teller of the comic story does not slur the nub; he shouts it at you — every time. And when he prints it, in England, France, Germany, and Italy, he italicizes it, puts some whooping exclamation-points after it, and sometimes explains it in a parenthesis. All of which is very depressing, and makes one want to renounce joking and lead a better life.” ~ Mark Twain

“Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose.” ~ Elmore Leonard

To summarize, F. Scott Fitzgerald hated exclamation points; Mark Twain didn’t like them either; Elmore Leonard recommended only two or three per novel.

Do You Agree?

Merriam-Webster defines an exclamation point as “a mark ! used especially after an interjection or exclamation to indicate forceful utterance or strong feeling.”

Let’s compare exclamation points to a fine glass of wine. One glass glides over the tongue, exciting the taste buds. The second glass lacks the same appeal, and it dulls the senses. Each succeeding glass decreases awareness, until you finally pass out.

Can you imagine the following?

Ward stopped in the hallway outside his apartment. Did he hear someone inside? His pulse raced. He unlocked the door and creaked it open a crack.

With trembling fingers, he groped for the light switch.

“Surprise,” said a chorus of voices.

The preceding example contains no exclamation points and adheres to the rule of never using anything except said to attribute dialogue. Surprise comes across as deadpan. Lifeless.

Let’s loosen the rules straitjacket.

“Surprise!” yelled a chorus of voices.

Now we see a forceful utterance, as per the preceding dictionary definition.

I could have written another version.

“Surprise!!!!!” screeched a cacophonous chorus of voices.”

Does the overstatement make the sentence stronger?

No.

Multiple exclamation points dilute rather than augment. As Terry Pratchett said, five exclamation marks are “the sure sign of an insane mind.” Screeched is too much of a departure from said, and cacophonous transforms the excerpt into a prime example of purple prose.

As with any punctuation, exclamation points have a place. Your task is to make them complement your writing without irritating readers.

Situations Where You Might Use an Exclamation Point

• A character is in extreme danger.
• An exciting or horrific situation unfolds.
• A person shouts, protests, or interjects.
• Someone issues a strong command.

German requires an exclamation point in imperative mood. Although English stemmed from Germanic roots, this convention no longer applies.

(Grammarly.com explains imperative mood on their blog.)

Nobody Wants a Novel That Reads Like a Comic Strip

Generous sprinkling of exclamation points, although suitable for comics or children’s books, will irritate adults.

Consider a few examples.

Bill punched the wall with one fist. Bash! “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a million times, don’t put cinnamon in my coffee!!!!!”

Bill’s punch and dialogue show his anger.

Bill bashed the wall with one fist. “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a million times, don’t put cinnamon in my coffee.”

Punched is changed to bashed. Zero exclamation points. F. Scott Fitzgerald would approve, although you might prefer a single ! at the end of the paragraph.

Todd said, “She has to say yes! She just has to! I don’t know what I’ll do if she turns me down!”

We see a desperate Todd. Do the exclamation points help?

Not really.

Todd said, “She has to say yes. She has to. I don’t know what I’ll do if she turns me down.”

The preceding version eliminates just and all three exclamation points, but it lacks emotion. Would it be better with appropriate body language?

Todd trembled. “She has to say yes. She has to. I don’t know what I’ll do if she turns me down.”

Todd’s trembling shows his anguish. Note that the dialogue tag (Tod said,) becomes an action beat when changed to Todd trembled.

“No!” yelled Grandma. “You’re not allowed outside until you clean your room!”

Unless we’re reading a confrontational scene, Grandma seems overwrought or maybe even mean.

“No,” said Grandma, “you’re not allowed outside until you clean your room.”

Now we see a calm situation. However, if Grandma is annoyed, we can make it obvious.

“No,” said Grandma as she waggled her finger, “you’re not allowed outside until you clean your room.”

The waggling finger shows Grandma’s annoyance. But maybe she’s furious.

Grandma’s eyes flashed. She leaned forward and poked Johnny’s chest. “No. You’re not allowed outside until you clean your room.”

Subtle changes open different emotional curtains. Making No a separate sentence adds emphasis without ! to make the point.

“You’ve got to be kidding!!!” Sam said. “I’d never do that!”

Try this instead:

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Sam said. “I’d. Never. Do. That.”

The lowly period provides emphasis, and exclamation points are reserved for those situations where readers will notice them.

Have You Ever Seen Something Like This?

“What the?!” Trent exclaimed. “Nobody gave you permission to take that apple pie.”

Punctuating with an interrobang (‽) or a question mark and an exclamation point adds nothing but confusion. Is Trent asking a question or expressing an emotion such as anger? Let’s make it clear.

“What the —” Trent glared and pointed to the apple pie on my plate. “Nobody gave you permission to take that.”

No exclamation point or question mark, and we replace the dialogue tag with an action beat that shows Trent’s anger.

“What the —” Trent raised his eyebrows and pointed to the apple pie on my plate. “Did somebody give you permission to take that?”

Now we see a clear indication of uncertainty with Trent’s raised eyebrows and the question mark.

Text Messages Require Special Treatment

Fitzgerald, Leonard, and Twain might have altered their advice if they had lived long enough to experience the texting revolution. Although serious writing should shun multiple exclamation points, texting provides an entertaining exception to the rule.

Kim: OMG. U should be here.

Cal: Why?

Kim: I just saw Lady Gaga.

Cal: OMW

Writing should mirror life. Can you imagine anyone texting the above without exclamation points?

Better:

Kim: OMG!!!!!! U should be here!

Cal: Why?

Kim: I just saw Lady Gaga!!!!

Cal: OMW!!!!!

Or the senders might tap out texts like this:

Kim: Omg u shud be here

Cal: Why

Kim: I just saw lady gaga

Cal: On my way!

In moments of fast communication, people omit punctuation and capitalization, allowing their phones to replace expressions like Omw with On my way!

If in doubt about texts in a story, send a series of messages to yourself and note the changes in format. When in a hurry, you’re less likely to insert emoticons, punctuation, or symbols.

Some Types of Writing Demand Strict Adherence to the No Exclamation Point Rule

Exclamation points have no place in:

• resumes
• financial reports
• business correspondence
• book reports
• college essays

A well-placed ! will call attention to a statement. However, if you want to project a professional image, words do it better.

Review the following extract from an interdepartmental memo.

Thanks for sending the budget proposal! It will be very helpful at the next staff meeting!

This might be a communication between associates or a boss and one of the employees. Exclamation points, although accepted by many in this type of environment, broadcast unprofessionalism.

I can’t thank you enough for sending the budget proposal. It’ll be indispensable at the next staff meeting.

The words show gratitude. A change from very helpful to indispensable tightens the writing.

Ready to Tackle a Few Exercises and Story Prompts?

Edit the following, removing all or most exclamation points. Grab them as story prompts if you wish.

#1. “Nobody can do a better job of training your dog than me!” exclaimed Hans. “Heck, I’ve been at this for nigh on twenty years now!!!”

“If you’re so good,” exclaimed Helga, “why is your dog peeing on your pant leg?!”

#2. Lightning flashed! Thunder boomed! A crack like a gunshot rang out as the old maple tree toppled onto the street.

“No!” I cried. “No! No! No!” My stash of [jewels? coke? something funny the speaker doesn’t want a significant other to know about?] spilled out of the hollow trunk.

#3. “No seasickness on a cruise?! BS!!!!” I hung over the rail and barfed up my breakfast!

Sandy slapped my face! And then she shoved me! Me, her husband of twenty-six years!

Time stood still as I plummeted toward the giant waves. Salty spray licked at my face.

Suddenly, I saw a dark shape churning the water below me.

Shark! No, many sharks!!! [Does our protagonist really see sharks, or is something else lurking in the water? Do you kill him off and then use flashbacks to show how he got to this point? or is this the beginning of an adventure? Perhaps he is whisked away to another time or dimension. Is suddenly necessary?]

#4. Emma sang as she skipped over the sidewalk. “Step on a crack; break your mother’s back! Step …” Something wet and squishy pelted her shoulders.

She stopped. Her freckled face contorted into a crooked frown. “Frankie, stop that!”

Frankie darted out from behind a hedge several feet in front of her. “Stop what?” His eyes widened! He pointed to something behind her!

Emma whirled around! [Does she see something scary? funny? Would this work as an opener for a children’s book or short story?]

See also The Master List of So-called “Rules” for Writers.