exclamation mark

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌɛks.kləˈmeɪ.ʃn̩ ˌmɑːk/
• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˌɛks.kləˈmeɪ.ʃn̩ ˌmɑɹk/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

exclamation mark (plural exclamation marks)

2. The punctuation mark “!” (generally used to denote excitement, surprise or shock).

   The excessive use of exclamation marks devalues their effect, but is typical of concise genres such as cartoons, not reference works!

   • 2006 February 3, Graham Linehan, The IT Crowd, Season 1, Episode 2:

     Subject: Fire... Dear Sir-stroke-Madam: Fire. Exclamation mark. Fire. Exclamation mark. Help me. Exclamation mark. 123 Carendon Road. Looking forward to hearing from you. All the best, Maurice Moss.

   • 2021, Claire Cock-Starkey, Hyphens & Hashtags, Bodleian Library, page 40:

     Traditionally, the exclamation mark has been used sparingly, especially in formal writing.

• (punctuation “!”): exclamation, exclamation point (USA); shriek (Britain); bang (USA); ecphoneme (obsolete); mark of admiration (obsolete); note of admiration (obsolete); note of exclamation (obsolete); note of interjection (obsolete); pling (computing); astonisher; screamer, interjection point (obsolete), mark of exclamation

• ¡ (inverted exclamation mark/point)
• ‼ (double exclamation mark/point)
• ‽ (interrobang)
• ⁈
• ⁉
• ﹗ (small exclamation mark/point)
• ❢ (dingbat)
• ❣ (dingbat)
• ՜ (^!) (Armenian)
• ᥄ (!) (Limbu)

Punctuation