I’m Addicted to Exclamation Points!! Let’s Discuss.

April 16, 2019 Let's Discuss 54

Of course, my main addiction is fiction (as my blog title so aptly points out), but I’ve realized that I’m addicted to something else as well: exclamation points!

Yes, I am one of those terrible over-users of the exclamation point. If I have commented on your blog, I have probably exclaimed over you in egregious ways. Sometimes I’ve used three exclamation points in a two-sentence comment!! It seems like the shorter a comment is, the more it needs an extra oomph. Somehow adding that little exclamation point makes me feel like the comment is more cheerful, more interesting, more vibrant, more encouraging.

Am I fooling myself? Probably.

Will I change? Probably not.

I know that some people find exclamation points really annoying. And sometimes I do go and remove one or two from my comments before I hit Send. After all, I don’t want to be obnoxious. But this is a perpetual issue for me, and I don’t expect to change anytime soon.

In my novel writing, I have to be careful not to let this habit carry over too much—too many exclamation points in a book is definitely a no-no. But in my comments … well, let’s just say that you can probably expect to see a whole lot of enthusiasm from me. I regret nothing.

Are you an exclamation point enthusiast or do they drive you more than a little bit mad? I want to know!

 

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54 Responses to “I’m Addicted to Exclamation Points!! Let’s Discuss.”

  1. Aj @ Read All The Things!

    Well, there’s an exclamation point in the title of my blog, so I guess I’m addicted. I use exclamation points on my blog and in comments, but not anywhere else in my writing life. I use interrobangs on my blog too because they’re silly. I’d never use them anywhere else. My blog is supposed to be fun. I can use whatever punctuation I want!!!!!!

    Reply

    • Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

      Ha! Yes, you must love them to include them in your blog title! I definitely combine question marks and exclamation points–is that the same as an interrobang, or do you have to use a special character for it to count? I’m not sure. I agree that my blog is for fun, so I don’t feel bad for being enthusiastic!

      Reply

  3. Amber Elise @ Du Livre

    I overuse exclamation marks too. I have to reread my work emails like twice to make sure I’m not coming across as ridiculous and I can’t imagine how hard it would be when writing a novel!

    Reply

  4. S. J. Pajonas

    Oh, social media and blogging is where I let my exclamation points run wild and free. I love using them! SEE?! I even pair them with question marks and I know I’m not supposed to do that! This was a hard habit to break in fiction. I now make sure to keep my exclamation points to five or less PER NOVEL. Yep. I’m that hard core about them in fiction. 🙂

    S. J. Pajonas recently posted: Featuring THE DEAD GIRL’S STILETTOS By Quinn Avery
    Reply

  6. Malka @ Paper Procrastinators

    I am the same way! Chana always says that’s the easiest way to differentiate the two of us. If you see an exclamation point after every sentence, you know it’s me. I think that it’s the easiest way for me to show emotion. And since I get excited about practically EVERYTHING an exclamation point is the easiest way for me to express that in writing!

    Malka @ Paper Procrastinators recently posted: Debate It: To DNF or Not to DNF
    Reply

  7. Wendy @ Falconer's Library

    I feel like I saw something recently about how women do this more than men. I’ve been known to go back through my comments and remove exclamation points if every sentence ends in one. I do think that in commenting, it adds that degree of cheerfulness that we want to convey.

    Great topic! I love how you come up with so many different discussion ideas!!
    😉

    Reply

    • Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

      Yeah, I actually don’t mind that I use a lot of exclamation points, but sometimes even I have to acknowledge that I’ve been excessive and delete a few. Otherwise I probably start to come off as a caricature instead of an enthusiastic person. But I like to be cheerful, and I’m not going to change that! 🙂

      Reply

  8. Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books

    Oh damn this is exactly me, I feel so seen haha. I noticed that I tend to use a lot of exclamation points, or/and hearts and smiles and things like that and… sometimes I feel like people have to think I’m the most enthusiastic person ever but I just love to show my love and enthusiasm and it comes with A lot of exclamation points and smiles and things like that haha I can’t help it. I try to control it and to do my best in that comment but all I want really is to write this is me!! and so reatable!! <3

    Reply

  10. Jessica @ a GREAT read

    Oh I do the same as well! It’s a bad habit, but I feel like when writing comments you can never really hear tone and that’s important in conversations. Because of that lack I find I used exclamation points to emphasize my enthusiasm! To let the blogger know that I am in total agreement and getting excited because of that! I have no qualms about this either clearly! Lol! And yeah, I might have overused them here too out of excitement, but it just proves my point on tone! 😉

    Reply

  11. ShootingStarsMag

    I love exclamation points! I think blog comments are one place you really shouldn’t have to tone it back either, because who doesn’t like exciting comments on their blog? It’s a fun way to show your enthusiasm for a post!!

    -Lauren

    Reply

  15. Laura

    I relate so much to this! I definitely have to go back over all my comments (and blog posts as well actually) and remove half the exclamation points before I hit publish. I always just hope people know that it’s just enthusiasm and excitement, not me shouting at them! 🙂

    Reply

  16. Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight

    Who doesn’t love exclamation points?! Writing a book is one thing. Definitely a no-no to use too many there. I also always have to check myself when I’m sending emails lol. But online in general? They’re great! So many comments would seem very somber and unfriendly without them. Feel free to use as many exclamation points as you want on my blog 🙂

    Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted: Cover Characteristics: Book Covers featuring Flowers
    Reply

  18. Cristina @ Girl in the Pages

    I can totally relate to this! In my work emails, I always feel like I come off mad or rude if I don’t use exclamation points, but I’m also worried sometimes people will think I’m just an overexcited millennial lol.

    Reply

  20. Olivia Roach

    I don’t think these is anything wrong with using all the exclamation points all of the time!! I do use them a lot when writing blog and youtube comments, or instagram captions. And when I notice it I’m like: oops. But it doesn’t happen too much in my fiction writing for some reason?? Also, I totally abuse question marks when it comes to comments as well. Maybe I just abuse punctuation 😛

    Olivia Roach recently posted: The Influential Author [Book Review]
    Reply

  21. Jen

    I do this with texting!!! 😉 I actually found out that one of my friends hates multiple exclamation points and I’ve been doing that in the texts with her for years. Whoops lol.

    Jen recently posted: 2018 Favorite Singles
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  24. Dani @ Perspective of a Writer

    hahaha I could have totally written this Nicole. I too over use the exclamation point!! And I can’t help it since I have to be so restrained in my writing. And I even edit my points down too in comments if I notice I got excessive. 😉

    Reply

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