exclamation point

[Bonnie Gibson]

Does anyone know when it is proper to use an exclamation point? I was always taught that you use it when you are using a sentence with exitement. I was told by a publishing company that I used the exclamation point in my manuscript:

<QUOTE> This is an editor’s bane and any editor worth their salt will scream long and loud.

Should we NEVER use it or what?

New author, very confused.

Bonnie

[trumancoyote]

I'd say it's proper to use a quotation mark whenever you're quoting anything ;)

<I'm aware this doesn't make sense anymore>

[Medievalist]

Does anyone know when it is proper to use an exclamation point? I was always taught that you use it when you are using a sentence with exitement.

Journalists refer to the exclamation point as a "screamer." That's a good way to think about it. Use it very, very rarely. The idea is that the words, and the context, should convey the "excitement," or other emotional intensity--and the punctuation mark may actually detract from paying attention to the words.

When you're reading fiction, notice how very rarely you see the exclamation point.

[arrowqueen]

Only when someone's falling off a cliff.

[Bonnie Gibson]

That helps a bunch.

Bonnie