Punctuation question

[stargurl128]

Are you allowed to put a question mark and an exclamation mark right next to each other in "proper english"?
ex:
"This is taking too long." Mary whined the second we got in line.
"Long?!" I said.

[Clovia]

Maybe if you underlined (italicized) the word, instead? I've seen it--especially in comic books--but I don't think it's considered proper. Ah, if only the interrobang had caught on...

[blacbird]

I would venture: Never. In your example, the question mark alone is plenty sufficient to convey the meaning and emphasis.

caw

[jjacobs]

Though it is often considered poor writing and really isn't necessary, I wouldn't say never use it. There is a variety of rules writers are "supposed" to follow, but most of these rules can and have been broken over the years. With that said, I would only keep it if you're absolutely sold on its use.

[warofthesparks]

Dan Brown does this in The Lost Symbol. Didn't take anything away from the story, and look at its position on the NYT Bestseller's List. Do whatever you want, I say.

[blacbird]

Do whatever you want, I say.

Yeah. I recommend forty-two consecutive exclamation marks.

caw

[Duncan J Macdonald]

Yeah. I recommend forty-two consecutive exclamation marks.

caw
Hmm, Okay.

"Hi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "


Nah. Go for the gusto -- at least 84 of 'em.

"Hi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yeah, much better! Got some real emphasis going on there.

[warofthesparks]

Yeah. I recommend forty-two consecutive exclamation marks.

caw

:) I didn't mean do whatever you want (although, to be fair, that is what I said). I meant that where the "?!" is concerned, it doesn't matter whether you do "?!" or just "?" The surrounding actions should make clear what the speaker's attitude is anyway.