JENNIFER ROVA
May we use ?! and !? or ???? or !!!! in writing? It is unacceptable to use the aforementioned in academic writing, in formal writing, in business writing and by good writers. Its use points to the writer as uneducated or too lazy to think of the proper words. In recent years and in more casual writing, ?! and alternatively !? became popular through comic strip cartoons. Often the cloud above a character’s head will contain interrobongs or interabangs (in-TER-a-bang) which is what [?!] and [!?] are called, the latter spelling being the preferred choice.
May we use ?! and !? or ???? or !!!! in writing? It is unacceptable to use the aforementioned in academic writing, in formal writing, in business writing and by good writers. Its use points to the writer as uneducated or too lazy to think of the proper words. In recent years and in more casual writing, ?! and alternatively !? became popular through comic strip cartoons. Often the cloud above a character’s head will contain interrobongs or interabangs (in-TER-a-bang) which is what [?!] and [!?] are called, the latter spelling being the preferred choice.
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| interabang |
Punctuation at the end of a sentence is called terminal
punctuation. There is the period [.], which ends most sentences. The question
mark [?] ends an interrogative sentence and an exclamation point [!] is used
after an interjection or exclamation.
An interabang is used to express some question, excitement,
surprise or disbelief: I am adopted?!
You did what to the dog!? Please, will you help me?!
Is there a specific way to use the interabang? Yes, it turns
out, there is. If you want to use an interabang, place the most important punctuation mark first. “You got into
Harvard?!” denotes first surprise that you got accepted followed by the extra
emphasis of the unbelievable. “You got into Harvard !?” is excitement for your
acceptance followed by the lesser surprise that you got in. The unwritten rule is that you put first the punctuation you
would normally use without its companion.
“What are you doing?” is asking a simple question because I
do not know the answer.
“What are you doing!” is disbelief, horror or worry
regarding what you are doing that I see and I understand.
“What are you doing?!” is surprise and disbelief and “What
are you doing!?” is disbelief followed by why would you do something like that?
There is a glyph (symbol) for an interabang but it is not
found in most fonts. Apparently you can find it text editor or by using
Americana font. I could not find it in fonts and I do not have text editor but
it looks like this. It is combination of a question mark and an exclamation
point. Most people use "?!" or "!?"
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| interabang |
There are several other uses of the word interabang in unrelated
instances. One is a web site of an English design firm, interabangUK, another
is a travel web site, Interabang travels with Trisha and Derrick, plus various
others within a variety of unrelated subjects.
The question is it ever proper under any circumstances to
use multiple exclamation points or question marks such as “I am so tired!!!!!” “Where
are you?????” The answer is no, unless you want to look stupid and annoy your
reader be it in an email, on Facebook or in your writing.
For more information see Nancy Owens Barnes' post on "Exclamanation Mark: Its Use and Abuse!"
http://writingnorthidaho.blogspot.com/2012/11/exclamation-mark-its-use-and-abuse.html
P.S. I agree with a reader's comment that to use "ect., etc." is also a no-no.
For more information see Nancy Owens Barnes' post on "Exclamanation Mark: Its Use and Abuse!"
http://writingnorthidaho.blogspot.com/2012/11/exclamation-mark-its-use-and-abuse.html
P.S. I agree with a reader's comment that to use "ect., etc." is also a no-no.
11 comments:
Oh man!!! Have I been doing it wrong all these years?! :) Thanks for the informative article.
Glad you enjoyed it. It was fun to research the concept. I did not know there was a name for this incorrect punctuation.
Hey Jennifer, I never knew this stuff. Terrific!!!
Hear hear for stamping out the "etc. etc." of punctuation. I do like the subtle difference between "?!" and "!?" however; I can't accept one being "preferred" when they're not the same. (And if I could make a genuine interrobang, that would be yet another variant, the delicately balanced one.)
I forgot to include the unnecessary use of a double "etc." thanks for noting it.
I must be the odd ball out as I sometimes like the use of double's .. maybe it's a throw back to one of my favorite musicals when the King of Siam would often say, "etc., etc., etc. " Hey, Jennifer! Thanks for another informative post !
Thank you very much. This settled an important writerly debate for me :)
Donna, you are welcome for the interpretation of interabangs. As you know, the English language changes the most of all the major languages. Words and phrases change the most quickly with punctuation changing more slowly. Good luck in your writing future!
Very interesting. I have a question though. What's the correct way to transfer to the reader the feeling of excitement in a question without the use of the improper interbang then? Just by specifying the context? (ex. "What are you doing?" She asked alarmed.)
One suggestion: Alarm radiating from her voice, she shouted, "What are you doing!"
Surprised, she asked, "What are you doing?" Try to find some adverb or better yet a verb that shows how you want your character to respond "happily," "sadly," "concerned," "afraid," "scowling," She tapped her foot saying, "What are you doing?" Try to show how she is feeling by describing her reaction instead of using the interrabang.
Hope this this helps.
Great article, thank you. Just to clarify, are you stating that when the writer is making a statement of shock or disbelief, it is okay to simply place an exclamation point instead of a question mark (if the writer is not expecting an actual answer)? Example: "I was so nervous, who ever heard of such!" or "Who could ask for a better day to travel!" I am confused about statements that start with "Who, What, When", as those are often used to ask a question.
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