exclamation mark

grammar

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

An exclamation point, also known as an exclamation mark, is a punctuation mark used to indicate strong feeling or forceful utterance. It is placed at the end of a sentence, often after an interjection or an exclamation.1

The mark signifies a distinctive indication of major interest or contrast. For example, it can be used to emphasize a victory or a significant event. The term "exclamation" itself refers to a sudden, short emotional utterance, which can include shouts, cries, or interjections. When someone exclaims, they are uttering words with a sudden burst of strong feeling.123

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punctuation
Punctuation in Greek and Latin to 1600
…their modern names, and the exclamation mark, quotation marks, and the dash had been added to the system.
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…their modern names, and the exclamation mark, quotation marks, and the dash had been added to the system.
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interjection
Usage
…writing, interjections are followed by exclamation marks if they express strong emotions (“Hey! What is going on here?”) or set off by commas if they express emotions that are less intense (“Oh, I must have overlooked that.”).
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…writing, interjections are followed by exclamation marks if they express strong emotions (“Hey! What is going on here?”) or set off by commas if they express emotions that are less intense (“Oh, I must have overlooked that.”).
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