Upload
joel-aldrich
View
1.704
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Learn how to use an Exclamation Mark / Point
Citation preview
AmerEnglishLive Free / Speak Free
PRESENTS
Exclamation Mark
Called Exclamation Point in American English
3
2
1 Introduction
Rules
Quiz
!!!
Introduction
An exclamation mark usually shows strong feeling, such as surprise, anger or joy. Using an exclamation mark when writing is rather like shouting or raising your voice when speaking. Exclamation marks are most commonly used in writing quoted speech. You should avoid using exclamation marks in formal writing, unless absolutely necessary.
Try to avoid exclamation marks in formal writing such as an essay or business letter.
Remember:
1. Use an exclamation mark to indicate strong feelings or a raised voice in speech:
She shouted at him, "Go away! I hate you!"
He exclaimed: "What a fantastic house you have!"
"Good heavens!" he said, "Is that true?"
"Help!"
"Shut up!"
"Stop!"
2. Many interjections need an exclamation mark:
"Hi! What's new?"
"Oh! When are you going?"
"Ouch! That hurt."
3. A non-question sentence beginning with "what" or "how" is often an exclamation and requires an exclamation mark:
What idiots we are! (We are such idiots.)
How pretty she looked in that dress! (She looked very pretty in that dress.)
4. In very informal writing (personal letter or email), people sometimes use two or more exclamation marks together:
I met John yesterday. He is so handsome!!!
Remember, don't be late!!
I'll never understand this language!!!!
Exclamation Points
Rules
In English, the rules for using quotation marks with exclamation points follow the same general rules as question marks. And although you aren’t likely to use quotation marks with semicolons, in case you want to impress your grammar teacher, the rules are included here.
The exclamation point is used at the end of a sentence or after an interjection to show strong emotion or emphasis.
Exclamatory sentence: The rain did not stop for four days!
Strong command: Be back at ten o'clock or else!
Interjection: Wow!
When an emphatic interjection or direct address begins a sentence, you may use an exclamation point or a comma, depending on how much you want to show the strong emotion.
Correct: No, I don't want to go there.
Correct, more emotion: No, I don't want to go there!
Correct, even more emphasis: No! I don't want to go there!
Beware of overusing exclamation points. Using them too frequently makes them less meaningful.
Use of an exclamation point inside parentheses is used by some to show irony.
Usually, the ironic tone should be clear from the words, but sometimes this special punctuation is added for emphasis. Some authorities do not consider this construction necessary, and it is of very limited use in most standard English writing.
OK, informal: That butcher (!) is a vegetarian.
(The punctuation is probably not necessary, but it was placed there to emphasize the irony.)
Use an exclamation point [ ! ] at the end of an emphatic declaration, interjection, or command.
"No!" he yelled. "Do it now!"
An exclamation mark may be used to close questions that are meant to convey extreme emotion, as in
What on earth are you doing! Stop!
An exclamation mark can be inserted within parentheses to emphasize a word within a sentence.
We have some really(!) low-priced rugs on sale this week.
Note that there is no space between the last letter of the word so emphasized and the parentheses. This device should be used rarely, if ever, in formal text.
An exclamation mark will often accompany mimetically produced sounds, as in
"All night long, the dogs woof! in my neighbor's yard"
"The bear went Grr!, and I went left."
If an exclamation mark is part of an italicized or underlined title, make sure that the exclamation mark is also italicized or underlined:
My favorite book is Oh, the Places You'll Go!
(Do not add a period after such a sentence that ends with the title's exclamation mark. The exclamation mark will also suffice to end the sentence.) If the exclamation mark is not part of a sentence-ending title, don't italicize the exclamation mark:
I've asked you not to sing la Marseillaise!
In academic prose, an exclamation point is used rarely, if at all, and in newspaper writing the exclamation point is virtually nonexistent.
If the entire sentence is an exclamation, but the quoted words aren’t, put the exclamation point outside the quotation marks.If the quoted words are an exclamation, put the exclamation point inside the quotation marks.
Here are some sample sentences with exclamation points:
Gene said, “I can’t believe it’s not butter!” (The quoted words are an exclamation but the entire sentence is not.)
I simply cannot believe that Gene actually said, “No, thank you”! (Now the entire sentence is an exclamation but the quoted words are not.)
If both the sentence and the quotation are exclamations, put the exclamation point inside the quotation marks.
Take a look at this example:
I cannot believe that Gene actually said, “No way would I run for president!”
No matter what, don’t use two exclamation points:
Wrong: I refuse to believe that Gene said, “In your dreams!”!
Right: I refuse to believe that Gene said, “In your dreams!”
Quiz Time!
Directions: Decide if the following sentences should end with an exclamation point. Click on either “Yes” or “No”.
Example:
I am so happy! We won the game Yes No!WRONG
1) Can we go now
2) Ouch! I hurt my knee
3) What time is it
4) I am tired
5) Where are we going
6) I am so excited because today is my birthday
7) Good morning everyone
8) Does anyone know his name
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
!
!
WRONG
WRONG
WRONG
WRONG
WRONGWRONG
WRONG
WRONG
!!
! WRONG
9) Hooray! We are finally free
10) “Hey!” the man yelled, “Please help me”
11) Do you know how to get to 12 street
12) My car is old
13) I am sleepy
14) The airplane is going to crash
15) I just won the lottery
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
WRONG
WRONGWRONG
WRONG
WRONGWRONG
Answers1) Can we go now _ No2) Ouch! I hurt my knee _ Yes 3) What time is it _ No4) I am tired _ No5) Where are we going _ No6) I am so excited because today is my birthday _ Yes 7) Good morning everyone. _ No8) Does anyone know his name _ No9) Hooray! We are finally free _ Yes 10) “Hey!” the man yelled, “Please help me” _ Yes 11) Do you know how to get to 12 street _ No12) My car is old _ No13) I am sleepy _ No14) The airplane is going to crash _ No15) I just won the lottery _ Yes
Joel D.
Aldrich