Exclamation marks overuse

[lollipoprainbow]

There was a recent Facebook post about a man that had gone missing locally and a subsequent update a few weeks later to say he had sadly passed away followed by RIP and loads of exclamation marks. It makes me cringe when people overuse and inappropriately use exclamation marks. Anyone agree ?

Yes!

That’s the most important thing you took from this sad event?!

Yes it's awful, but especially so in a context such as you describe. Implies the poster is excited at sharing horrible news.
They may well be so but should have the insight to keep their excitement out of the discussion.

Omg! Yes!!!! 😂

Its weird, but I personally associate exclamation marks with humour (not sure why?) so when I see them on posts like the ones you have mentioned I always find it disrespectful. I think in the age of text speak its probably crept in along with emoji and symbols but i think YANBU

!

I expect it's one of many things she took from this sad event, and one she felt was worth discussing.
Is your post a question or a statement? Because the use of a question mark and an exclamation mark for the same sentence makes you look confused.

I agree OP. I feel the same way when I see double question marks.

It's called an interrabang and it indicates a rhetorical question, not confusion.

🙄

A question mark and exclamation mark together is an interrobang and seems perfectly appropriate in this case

Cross post!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah yes, Terry Pratchett was right. Too many exclamation marks IS a sure sign of a diseased mind.

The receptionist at DC primary school does it like this

"School trip for YR5 will be at XX and will cost £7. Money by tomorrow 9am PLZ!!!!!....."

Every single time.

Ah thanks for reminding me it has a name. Also, confusion IS one of its meanings/expressions.

Interrobang - Wikipedia

Excessive use of exclamation marks and emojis are annoying.

It's a shocker!!!!!!!!!!

Agree it is overuse and not good. Joins the other overuse including of big, little, literally, and the inability to just be sorry without some over qualification.

I don't mind them, to me it signifies the strength of emotion behind the sentence.

This!!!!!!!! 👆

Interrobang is a new one on me - every day is a school day!

Absolutely. The exclamation is misplaced if it is used in a written sentence which concerns death, a funeral etc. Seeing one in such circumstances makes me squirm. (I judge.)

Words are available for that purpose.

I worked with someone once who called them “explanation marks”. Grrrrr

Agree. He was very wise man was Sir Terry.

They are indeed, but not everyone is good with words and it's a lot easier to type "!!!" than "I feel extremely strongly about this matter".

Guilty!!!