On Exclamation Points

Exclamation points were once a valuable part of the written English language. An exclamation point's very presence defined an entire grouping of sentences, the exclamatory sentence was defined by the very existence of the exclamation point. They were used to express strong feelings, sentiments, or emotions. They were once my favorite form of punctuation. They were heads and shoulders above the comma and period and they were definitely more exciting to write then the question mark. The exclamation point allowed you to show passion in writing, it showed that you were not simply declaring something, you were exclaiming it.

The problem is that the exclamation point has become a mere triviality. It has been overused to the point of gluttony. We, as an English language society, have become exclamation point gluttons. Not only has it been overused, but it has been misused. It's not only that we are gluttons, but we are doing it incorrectly. We are eating with our nose. Think about it, do you even think the other person is excited anymore when you read an exclamation point? How many times have you seen a sentence that ended in seven or eight exclamation points. We have completely devalued the exclamation point as anything exciting. Its overuse has completely destroyed the very nature of itself. It makes me mad. I would love to once again use the exclamation point.

For this to happen however we need to stop using the exclamation point. We need to make people forget about the exclamation point. Then and only then when the value of the exclamation point has been restored, when we once again hunger for the excitement it brings, then and only then will I once again be able to comfortably exclaim things in print. I implore you, the English writing language, to stop using the exclamation point. I am done with it, I no longer will use an exclamation point in any sort of writing. I refuse until its value is restored. And to bid farewell to the exclamation point I leave you and it with this.

Stop using exclamation points!