To think the exclamation mark is overused and misused?

[WhatsTheExclamationFor]

This isn't a full grammar nazi situation - I'm not perfect so not bothered about grammar, as long as I can understand what's being said.

What bothers me a bit is how people use the exclamation mark. What's with all the shouting or emphasising statements? Isn't that largely what the symbol is for? But people often use it in place of full stop or as a passive aggressive signal or just because they can. It can be confusing when chatting with someone and you're not sure if something is wrong and they're showing it through '!' after every word or they simply felt like using it. It's worse if they've not been using it and suddenly it's there.

"Hello, how are you?"
"I'm fine!"

"Hope the issue was sorted! Let me know how it goes!"

"I've enjoyed my house and I'm glad we moved!!!"

"I'll let the plumber know!"

All in casual conversation with no need to exclaim anything and no other signs of any issues. Am I missing the point of the !, which requires more effort to find on the keyboard than the full stop?

What's the exclamation mark (!) for?

@PainterInPeril

Enid Blyton used them a lot in her books! Didn't do her any harm!! I think they liven up what could otherwise be a very boring narrative!!!

This to me is a perfect example of the emoji and exclamation mark.

Your post would've read as angry to me if not for the [grin emoji. That and the wink softens it and makes me read it as you jokingly or deliberately exaggerating the !!!

Many don't use emoji so you end up thinking they're angry or wondering if they're being serious or not.

Of course, not every post without emoji is confusing, I think it depends on what's being said and the context. Can't really explain it, it's just how I read them.

All of your examples had wholly inappropriate exclamation marks. I agree.
!!

The first message I got from DS' reception teacher had several and I thought she was really hacked off; turns out she just really likes them

Absolutely guilty here !

They are so overused and I was actually talking to someone at work about it yesterday. I've noticed that a lot of people now leave a space between the last word and the exclamation mark, as if the exclamation mark needs even more emphasis.

Yes I agree. I use them far too much nowadays. About 40% of my sentences end with them
On social media. Probably to stress I’m not serious to people that don’t know me well?

Love an exclamation mark!

I am terrible for this. I'm in sending emails I always go over them before sending and delete a handful of exclamation marks 😬
As an aside though - emoji I have just realised in my head is the plural which makes the singular .... emojus??

The use of exclamation marks got DP a dressing down from his boss for being insulting when communicating amongst a work group chat.
He hadn't a clue he'd done anything wrong, but after talking with younger members of staff found that this is the case nowadays.
! = ok
!!= loud
!!!= shouting

@UCOinaUCG

Love an exclamation mark!

Me too !!

OP. I'm 56 and have had a lifelong aversion to the exclamation mark. Thank goodness I'm not alone. My 21 year old DS remarked on my use of one the other day, such is his knowledge of my loathing of them or rather their over use. It has it's place but needs to know it's place
I'm really with you. It always makes me think people are not confident at conveying the tone of their text and resort to it as a means of conveying lughtheartedness etc
.. I can't think that everyone is exclaiming all the time!

A text with ! Means I'm not angry.
It's just how I see it anyway.

Mmmm....ginger beer! I could totally drink that right now! Sorry for derailing....

Yes!

But my dh and I fall foul of this in our texting all the time.

“Dc2 did a poo in the bath!” Is just a little different to “Dc2 did a poo in the bath” to “sos 💩 xx”

I think they are quite friendly, for example 'I'm fine!' Would be a nice, upbeat tone whereas 'I'm fine' could possibly be a little cold.

Perhaps 'Thanks!' / 'Thanks.' Is a getter example. The latter is blunt.

I overuse exclamation marks because a full stop seems blunt, a smiley seems like overkill and a kiss isn't always appropriate

I’m definitely guilty of this and one of the admin people at work told me off for it, but given that I’d been asked to do something completely pointless at the last minute the day after I’d been in a car accident, I’m afraid I didn’t really give a shit!

I overuse exclamation marks because a full stop seems blunt, a smiley seems like overkill and a kiss isn't always appropriate

This is definitely me!!!

There are also some interesting gendered implications - women do it more than men, for example.
It's either that I read more into punctuation and emojis or lack of same, but when dh sends a text without either I'm thinking 'yikes, sounds a bit cold!!'

I hate overuse of exclamation marks. What do you use when you really are excited, if you use three just for normal stuff? I don't care if I come over blunt, though.

If I overuse anything, it's ellipses...

I definitely do this because full stops seem deadpan over text. I hate doing it as well but it does make it seem more chipper

YABU!!!!