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!
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!!!!!!
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!
Ha I do this too!!! See?!? ?
Glad I’m not the only one who likes to spread my enthusiasm around!
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!
Oh, yes–I have to do that with professional emails too. Somehow those exclamation marks always creep in!
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. 🙂
Wow! Five per novel is quite impressive! With MG, I have a little more leeway than that, but I definitely try to limit my use of exclamation points. We’ll see if I did a good enough job when we get to the editing stage. LOL!
Too funny! I’m right there with you. I’m a chronic exclamation point over-user. What can I say… I’m excitable and I tend to show it with (many) exclamation points. LOL
We can’t be blamed if we’re just naturally exuberant, right?
This is so true of my comments as well and for exactly the same reason!
Although I do try to ring the changes with smileys so it’s not a total exclamation fest 🙂
Yes! What you can’t convey with an exclamation point can surely be expressed with a smiley face. 🙂
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!
Oooh, and you reminded me of another way I show enthusiasm or emphasis, using ALL CAPS! LOL! 🙂 (And smiley faces.)
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!!
😉
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! 🙂
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
Yes, emoticons are just as prevalent as exclamation points. No need for us to change, though–let’s just be enthusiastic together! 🙂
OH MY GOSH! SAME!! I have to tone it back at work. I wrote an email today where every sentence ended with an exclamation mark… oops!
Ha! Yes! That’s me for sure. I have to consciously make myself use periods. LOL!
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! 😉
Exactly! Why should we be solemn and somber all the time with those boring periods?
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
Good point! We all WANT enthusiasm.
Lol, I always feel self conscious about using exclamation points. Like people are going to think I’m yelling at them, when in reality I’m just super excited!
Ash @ JennRenee Read
Right? You don’t want to come off as ridiculous but you want to show enthusiasm. It’s quite a quandary!
hehe I definitely overuse exclamation points! I very much relate about not wanting the habit to carry over into my writing. Great post!
Yeah, in my novels this would get old fast. 🙂
I’ve never actually paid attention to how many exclamation marks I use, haha. I try to type how I’m thinking/feeling, so it comes across how I would say it aloud. If it’s exciting, exclamation mark! If not, a period will suffice. 🙂 If you want to use them, go for it!
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? ?
I typically just write how I feel too, but it usually comes out with exclamation points. I’m just a naturally exuberant person!
There’s nothing wrong with that!
🙂
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! 🙂
Yep. I would use at least double the amount of exclamation points if I didn’t at least censor myself a LITTLE!
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 🙂
Good to have your permission. I won’t censor my exclamation usage there. LOL! 🙂
I noticed this one day, and even mentioned it on twitter, and I sound SUper! Freaking! Excited! all the time lol I try to be mindful of it, especially in emails and on certain blog posts, though!
http://vivaciousbibliophile.com/
Yes!! I mean, I want to sound excited, but sometimes I have to admit it’s over the top. 🙂
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.
Exactly–it’s hard to balance those things!
Oh, MAN! I love this!! Not only do I love a well-placed exclamation point, but I also LOVE an all-caps word or even a stray emoji. ?
All caps AND emojis. Yep, I use them all! 🙂
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 😛
Punctuation abuse—I think we’ve come up with a new crime! 🙂
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.
Ha! Can’t please everyone. (I do it in my texts too.)
I am late to this discussion but when I saw her refer to it in a recent post I had to come find it! I love that little exclamation mark and probably sprinkle it around too much, but not to worry, not likely I will change either.
Why should we change? Seems like most people are just fine with our excitement. 🙂
I actually use them a lot! (see? Lol) I use them more with my closest friends. It just feels like if I don’t add one, the excitement and the emphasis aren’t there. They are very needed!
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
Exactly! We need people to know that we’re excited about their thoughts! 🙂
I totally agree!
🙂
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. 😉
Glad I’m not the only one! 🙂