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Subject:Re: On use of the exclamation mark From:Lester Klein <lklein -at- CAP -dot- GWU -dot- EDU> Date:Mon, 22 Aug 1994 19:54:00 -0400
Michael,
If two people always agree, then one of them is useless. I
respect your taking exception to my views on the exclamation mark. Let us
agree to disagree.
Les Klein
114 Melbourne Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20901
301-587-0659, Fax: 301-587-1562,E-mail: lklein -at- cap -dot- gwu -dot- edu
On Mon, 22 Aug 1994 mpriestley -at- VNET -dot- IBM -dot- COM wrote:
> Les Klein writes:
> >A polite suggestion for my writing colleagues.
> >
> > The exclamation mark should never be used just for emphasis.
> >
> >That is, it must be reserved for EXCLAMATIONS, e.g., LOOK OUT!, I FOUND
> >IT!, and so on. Italics, bolding, and underlining can be used for emphasis.
> A polite disagreement:
> An exclamation point is used to mark an outcry or an emphatic or ironical
> comment. In order not to detract from its effectiveness, however, the
> author should use it sparingly.
> Look out!
> Your comment was certainly lacking in tact!
> How can you say that!
> The emperor, it seemed, had forgotten to notify his generals!
> Suddenly the ambassador perceived that all was lost!
> -- Chicago Manual of Style, 13th Ed. 5.13 (p. 135)
> Later,
> Michael Priestley
> mpriestley -at- vnet -dot- ibm -dot- com
> Disclaimer: speaking on my own behalf not IBM's
