Headword
 Exclamation mark
Level
 [C], [D]
Language
 English
Topic
 Punctuation
Definition
 An exclamation mark ( ! ) is used to show that the writer is expressing strong feelings, such as annoyance, surprise or amusement. It may be used after a single word, a phrase or a sentence, and has the force of a full stop, being followed by a capital letter: Wait! Don’t go without me! Please!
Notes

1. Exclamation is a sentence type, most often used in spoken English but also used in older poetry to express emotion or to give commands.

2. An exclamation mark in brackets, following an amusing or exaggerated remark, is used to show ironic self-awareness on the part of the writer. In this case, it is not followed by a capital letter.

3. With their emphasis on emotion and the spoken intonations of surprise or amusement, exclamation marks should be used sparingly in formal writing.
Compare
 1. Use of exclamation marks in drama or role-play texts to signal tone, emphasis, or even extra-linguistic features such as equivalent of the smile and raised eyebrows accompanying a witticism; compare the use of emoticons in email messages: : ! : ).

2. Spanish ¡ ; the equivalent uses or conventions in French, German, etc.
Concept
 Stress, Written style
See also

Formality, Full stop, Question mark

French, German, Spanish