tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8313651519637984862.post2962170200350770426..comments2024-01-17T01:33:02.302-08:00Comments on The Riddle of Writing: Fashionable Punctuation!Deborah Swifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10594174632573628818noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8313651519637984862.post-85977267476982196582011-02-23T09:01:04.537-08:002011-02-23T09:01:04.537-08:00Now I think about it, I rarely use exclamation mar...Now I think about it, I rarely use exclamation marks but as the majority of my writing is plays, that's maybe not surprising. <br /><br />I've only recently come across your blog and have awarded you the 'One Lovely Blog Award' - http://fionajphillips.blogspot.com/2011/02/ive-won-award.htmlFihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01321354657419642710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8313651519637984862.post-23470198778340577462011-02-23T07:40:56.798-08:002011-02-23T07:40:56.798-08:00I think exclamation marks should be reserved for e...I think exclamation marks should be reserved for exclamations. If there are a lot of exclamations (as in the first passage you quoted, Dee), then they seem perfectly acceptable. But I think the use of too many of them devalues their effect, and after the punchline of a joke (they're often found in "comic" greetings cards), they seem to remove any element of humour. In that respect, I think they're a bit like canned laughter: an instruction to "laugh now".<br /><br />I know at least two people who pepper their communications with exclamation marks, to no positive effect:<br /><br />"We went shopping and bought a swede! It was as big as my head!! I shall have to make an awful lot of soup!!!!"<br /><br />That kind of thing. I long to tell them to stop! (That last was an exclamation).Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8313651519637984862.post-21978957048877853042011-02-23T04:26:33.515-08:002011-02-23T04:26:33.515-08:00Hi Nevets, Deborah ans Alis, thanks for commenting...Hi Nevets, Deborah ans Alis, thanks for commenting. I agree with Deborah, they're great in those short phrases as she suggests. I guess none of us want to be seen as weak writers Alis,and perhaps the exclamation mark does make us appear slightly too enthusiastic about our own writing. And Nevets, yes, I'm sick of hearing <br />"show,don't tell," particularly as in some sense we do actually need to tell the story.Deborah Swifthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10594174632573628818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8313651519637984862.post-17798807908644198192011-02-23T01:19:19.373-08:002011-02-23T01:19:19.373-08:00I must admit I've cut back on the use of excla...I must admit I've cut back on the use of exclamation marks over the years - I tend to feel that too many make my characters sound (or look, on the page) a bit hysterical.Alishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18406189984167289987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8313651519637984862.post-46843535847640569542011-02-22T09:10:01.437-08:002011-02-22T09:10:01.437-08:00Well, back in the only creative writing classes I ...Well, back in the only creative writing classes I ever took - at school, up to the age of about fifteen - I was told to use exclamation marks sparingly, because they implied laughter at a self-penned joke.<br /><br />But surely there are times when give the right upbeat tone, usually in short phrases. No, I didn't! Wait for me! Hey, you! Yes, you with the exclamation marks - bring them back!Deborah Lhttp://www.deborah-lawrenson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8313651519637984862.post-83505310828464836292011-02-22T08:22:59.539-08:002011-02-22T08:22:59.539-08:00I don't use them myself, but I'm baffled b...I don't use them myself, but I'm baffled by the hatred of them. They do serve a purpose, and they do not necessarily imply shouting.<br /><br />Rather like the abuse of the phrase, "show, don't tell" (which is itself rather telly), I so often see comments such as, "Find a more descriptive way to get the emotion across."<br /><br />Well, sometimes a writer wants to be concise.<br /><br />Honestly, I think it's a fashion trend. Write now there's a prevailing perception that exclamation points are weak, and no writer wants to appear weak, so many writers will shun the poor punctuation mark.<br /><br />It shall turn around some day, though! I'm sure of it!C. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.com