The (Effortless) Exclamation Point: !
The exclamation point is the punctuation zapper.
It is used as a kind of visual scream.
At the end of a sentence, the exclamation point shows you really, really mean it:
Don't even think of going there!
At the end of a word, the exclamation point makes the word louder:
Help!
About ten or so years ago, there was a mild effort to create a new punctuation mark that was a combination question mark and exclamation point.
This was intended to help writers make questions really loud and even scary:
Don't you realize the harm you've done ? !
(I have to write them separately, but you can get the idea by drawing a question mark with a pen, and then drawing an exclamation point right on top of the question mark.)
The idea never caught on, but it's probably just as well!
If you use the internet a lot, you probably already know this, but if not I'd like to include some net manners here.
Do not write your words in ALL UPPERCASE to add emphasis.
It feels like you're shouting.
If you can't use an exclamation point, the accepted net-punctuation is to enclose the words in stars: *Like this*
And another thing! Don't use exclamation marks too often! Overuse deadens the impact! After a while your writing just gets dumb!!!!
To return to Step Two, click: Step Two!
