Mechanics Forum

My experience with exclamation points has shown an... Uneven terrain. Exclamation points are blanket discouraged, but you can be yelled at for NOT using one "where appropriate" without explanation FOR "where appropriate." But since many say use a stronger verb in its place, except where appropriate... It gets annoying after a while, lol.

But it also depends on where you are using them. Exclamation points should only be used in dialogue, for one. All other places, off the top of my head, are inappropriate. Though your own usage rule of "spoken with great enthusiasm" is a murky place. Exclamation points are to show yelling or loudness. To show WHAT that loudness is from, body language in the beats around the line of dialogue with the exclamation point would be critical, or the person is just screaming some words.

I hope any of that makes any sense, lol >_>