Noticing Newbies: May 10, 2017 Issue [#8279]
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Noticing Newbies


 This week: Donuts & Exclamation Points
  Edited by: Tornado Dodger Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter


The Noticing Newbies Newsletter's goal is to make the newer members feel welcome and encourage them with useful information and/or links to make navigating Writing.com easier. Writing.com members of all ages and even veteran members can find useful information here. If you have specific questions, try visiting "Writing.Com 101Open in new Window. and/or "Noticing NewbiesOpen in new Window..


Meet The Noticing Newbies Full-Time Newsletter Editors






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Letter from the editor



“New mysteries. New day. Fresh doughnuts.”
― David Lynch


Like donuts, exclamation points are awesome, but only in moderation. When you indulge too much, you'll end up looking bad. So, let's take a look at what we know about the amazing exclamation mark.

This particular punctuation mark is supposed to be used ‘to show strong emotion (“I won the lottery!”) or urgency (“Save me!”). One thing that some people don't think about is the fact that punctuation helps your writers to read your work. It seems obvious but you'd be surprised how many people I've told that to that didn't understand. Just like the comma tells your reader to pause, the exclamation point changes the voice in your reader's head.

Typically, exclamation points are placed at the end of a sentence to express extreme emotion.

*ExclaimBl* Excitement:
         I won a new house!
*Shock2* Horror:
         That doll just moved!
*Shock* Urgency:
         Get out!
*No* Protest:
         No, I won't sign it!

There are sometimes when writers who are moved to use more than one exclamation point. There is no reason to do this. Punctuation doesn't convey emotion, words do. If you want to convey more emotion and you think your sentence needs more than one exclamation mark, you're using the wrong words. How else can you express intensified emotion? One way is by adding more description to the rest of the sentence.

Example:
         “I won a new house!” my best friend exclaimed.
         “I won a new house!” my best friend shouted, jumping up and down.

Mixed Punctuation

Instead of using multiple exclamation points, some writers will use mixed punctuation such as a question mark with an exclamation point to signify confusion and excitement together. While you may be surprised to hear this, that is acceptable to some as a non-standard punctuation mark called the Interrobang or the "interrogative point". I still maintain though, there is no true need for mixed punctuation if you use the correct words. Though, I do like the name I admit. *Laugh* Here are some other lesser known punctuation marks.SarcMark  Open in new Window.was a short-lived punctuation mark that I thought would for sure catch on, but apparently I was wrong. It went by way of the The Irony Mark  Open in new Window. which only lives on in the pages of Wikipedia. Do you know any others you'd like to share? Write me in the comments. I'd love to hear from you. *Smile*

Write and Review on! ~ Brooke

*Down* "Shady Characters is an authoritative, witty, and fascinating tour of the history and rationale behind such lesser known marks as the ampersand, manicule, the pilcrow, and the interrobang. Keith Houston also explains the octothorpe―otherwise known as the hashtag―and my final comment on his book is #awesome.”
(Ben Yagoda, author of How to Not Write Bad)
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Editor's Picks




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I Don't Know What's Wrong With Me Open in new Window. [18+]
Story of a woman discovering that she is depressed. 2nd in Mysteries of the Mind Contest.
by QPdoll is Grateful Author Icon
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~*Star*~

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


~*Star*~

 The Gold Rush Open in new Window. [ASR]
A trio of politicians contemplate the potential of a new gold rush.
by Jeff Author Icon


~*Star*~

 Weighing One's Measure of Success Open in new Window. [E]
A Tongue in Cheek Look at my Fascination with Having a Title to My Name
by QueenOwl ~ A New Day Dawns Author Icon


~*Star*~

 in the depths Open in new Window. [E]
a poem of self betrayal
by Frogboy Author Icon


~*Star*~

 
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What If I Had Octopus Hands? Open in new Window. [E]
If you woke up with unusual hands, what might happen? Find out in this fun picture book
by TroyIsWriting Author Icon


~*Star*~

 The Test Open in new Window. [13+]
Can Kyra pass the test and earn the protection she needs to survive?
by Sam M. Ryan Author Icon


~*Star*~

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


~*Star*~

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


~*Star*~


 
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Ask & Answer


I received some wonderful feedback to my last newsletter [#8232] "The Many Lives of the EllipsesOpen in new Window. and I'm proud to share it with you.

From QPdoll is Grateful Author Icon
I had never heard of Terminal Points before until this newsletter. Love it. I learn so many things!

I'm so glad you found it helpful. *Bigsmile* Thanks for writing in.

From the Wordy Jay Author Icon
Love the lesson on punctuation!

You're welcome. I'm glad you found it useful and interesting. :)

From Jeff Author Icon
I'm a terrible over-user of ellipses, mostly when I want to indicate a pause in a sentence. I always feel like semicolons are too formal and commas aren't always the best choice... and I end up using an ellipsis like *Left* that. Bad Jeff!

I think we're all guilty of it at times. It's a problem I still have to be conscious of at times. Keep at it!

From QueenOwl ~ A New Day Dawns Author Icon via email.
Great article. Wrong application of ellipsis is a common infraction we see for beginning writers. I refer to The Writer's Digest Grammar Desk Reference for my source of information and guidance.

The only time there is a fourth dot to an ellipsis is if one or more words are deleted from a quotation positioned at the end of the hosting sentence. In such a case, both period and ellipsis are used if the quoted matter is a grammatically complete sentence. No blank space will precede the period.

Thanks for a great teach!

You are exactly right. Thank you so much for writing in. I'm glad you enjoyed the article.

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