I did it.
I went a week without using exclamation marks. Not a single happy stick and dot in any emails, text messages, or reminder notes to myself or anyone else.
The week required concentration. I like using exclamation marks. I like when other people use exclamation marks. They’re like virtual fist bumps. In nixing the mark, I had to choose my words more carefully to accomplish the same feeling of comaraderie that the mark communicates so effortlessly.
A little while ago I was reminded of this quote from C.S. Lewis:
Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say “infinitely” when you mean “very”; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.
His sage advice makes sense to me too with respect to punctuation. Don’t use an exclamation mark if you don’t need to, otherwise you’ll have no punctuation option left when you want to talk about something really exclamatory. Or, you’ll risk falling into the trap of having to use multiple exclamation marks, which more than anything suggests an over consumption of spirits or caffeine.
This is informal communication I’m referring to, but even casual correspondence should strive to represent the best of ourselves. Think, virtual fist bump plus virtual eye contact.
Like this:
Jane wins the Newbery.
Dan emails: Holy frickin’ awesome!! You’re a rockstar!!!! (fist bump)
Sam emails: This is really wonderful news. You are truly deserving of this incredible honor. I am so, so proud of you. (fist bump + deep meaningful eye contact)
Using exclamation marks doesn’t necessarily preclude poor word choice, but it tends to. And in fact, Sam could probably have used an exclamation in his message because if ever there was something worth exclaiming about, it’d be a friend winning the Newbery Medal.
The week has been just a little bit liberating. Already I feel more grounded, less high-pitched.
Less like I’m communicating through a megaphone.
Air Lass, I love this post, especially the C.S. Lewis quote that speaks to it. I’m going to try the same thing this week.
Cool, Ginger. I’d love to know how it goes. Maybe return here in a week and give an update?
Doomed. I’m a huge failure, I’m sorry to report, and not even a week gone by. In certain emails, I felt like it was expected, and that I would be judged and found robotically emotionless if I lacked the exclamation. Sigh. I will continue to persevere, though.
Ginger, I completely know what you mean. During my week off I had to wish my four-year-old niece a happy birthday without using an exclamation. The message was wonderfully sincere, but I think she wouldn’t have minded more megaphone. It was fun of you to try it out.
Well I’ll be darned. I never thought of it that way. I have a friend who ends all of his emails, Thanks Carol!, and it’s annoying as hell. Now I realize why. But honeychile, you ARE an exclamation mark, like it or not.
Oh, dear, I’ve done that very thing many times, and probably to you, Carol. Now I know what it sounds like. Thanks for your comment.
Oh, I do so love your honesty, Carol. (Exclamation point!)
This makes me think of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine gets mad at her boyfriend for not using an exclamation point when he takes down a phone message about Elaine’s friend having had a baby. Then later Elaine upsets her publisher boss when she adds too many exclamation points to the manuscript she’d editing.
Bigfoot, I remember that episode. Elaine was a walking, talking exclamation mark, wasn’t she? Thanks for stopping by and reading. I like your blog. Good stuff.