Delia Online

By relaxed cook: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 11:41
I have just done an assignment at a company which banned the use of exclamation marks within any company literature, internal memos, emails etc. They reckoned they are so over used they become both pointless and irritating. I have to say when you are working to the rule, it does make you realise how easy it is to drop them in left right and centre. Funny rule though don't you think? Or are we all going to become much more punctuation precise?

Replies

By Trekkie: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 11:57
I use exclamation marks with gay abandon, and I don't care - they've probably got a support group for overusers, but you'll not find me there. Although I do try to use everything else correctly.

By Sheelagh, Rossett nr Chester: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 12:03
I'm the same as Trekkie - I do try to be careful with punctuation and spelling (though not always successfully!) - but I am a bit liberal with the exclamation marks!!!

By jeni_hope: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 12:22
Me too !! !!

By Meatloaf: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 12:26
-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
!

By gerry: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 12:34
Aren't they used to indicate that it's not a proper sentence? Eg no main verb!

By Jameseybaby!!!

Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 12:54

I love them!!!!!!!!!!! Its silly to ban anything like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xxx

By gerry: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 12:59
They can be overused.

By *Bramble: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 14:59
It's to do with not being face-to-face, you can convey the wrong impression, I use smilies for this reason too.
You don't want people to think you're being really serious, and sometimes you have to make it clear you are joking - don't get upset, it's a joke!!!

By *Bramble: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 15:02
I can see your company's point of view, though. You're supposed to be conveying information, taking orders, doing business, you wouldn't use them in a business letter. A bit more formality required.

By carolokay: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 15:27
Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Caroxx:))

By carolokay: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 15:29
Bramble I do agree that they shouldn't be used in a business letter. But, other than that I use them all the timeXX

By Three olive martini

Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 16:21

Having worked as a journalist and an advertising copy writer, I'd say that there's absolutely no place for exclamation marks in formal communication - if you need a visual cue to let people know that what you're saying is exciting, then you're not saying it right.

However, I use them left right and centre in informal writing. As we've seen before on this board, it's easy to misinterpret someone's tone when chatting online, so any cues that help lessen confusion. This is why smilies are so popular. :-)

By jeni_hope: Re: exclaimation marks
09 May 2008 18:58
But exclamation marks are quicker

By Morag Sydney Australia: Re: exclaimation marks
10 May 2008 07:19
I love them too - but not in formal communications. Definitely not !!!!!!!!
Morag.