Admittedly, I am guilty of using too many exclamation points in my emails and texts, but I do try to avoid them in what I write in the workplace. It turns out that is the right choice, according to the Business Insider article Stop Using Exclamation Points At Work!
The article ends with the flowchart shown below, which suggests that most of the time, you should not use exclamation points. It’s a fun flowchart—though perhaps not based on an academic study. Even so, it’s a good reminder and a nice distraction for these last days of class.
Click on the image for a larger version and a transcript.
16 Comments
I found this article to be a bit satirical and thought that the use of satire was an effective way letting the reader know you shouldn’t use exclamation marks in writing. Although I rarely use exclamation marks in my technical writing, however I do use them often when sending emails whether they are casual or profressional. After reading the article, it is clear that I should probably stop using them. I also think that this article used color and visual aspects well to highlight the author’s intentions of making sure that the reader understands that exclamations should not be used. If I have a critique of the article, it is that there are too many words with too smalll of a font.
You are 100% correct about the satire – reading it made me feel kind of stupid and childish for ever using exclamation points. I am like you in that I do not use them in technical writing but I do use them for emails. And according to the other post about formal letter writing, email is a form of professional writing and it should be drafted like one.
For me, I am so concerned about coming across as not personable, dull, or not excited about something when I email. However, if there is something I have learned from this class- and reading posts from classmates and especially the professor – there are ways to sculpt you writing to make it “not boring” without exclamation marks. I regularly comment on one of my writing group member’s work about how personable his writing is (I can definitely here is voice through his words). So I will try to stick to this technique rather than punctuation.
I agree with the inforgraphic, and the article, I think that the use of exclamation marks is unnecessary. You can get across a message without the use of exclamation marks, and I think it takes away from the overall message. When I think of exclamation marks, it reminds me of text language. I either use it when I am genuinely excited to see someone I have not seen in a while, or when I am being sarcastic. I feel like in books, particularly in fiction novels exclamations can be used for interactions between characters. I sometimes use an exclamation mark when talking to my professors, when I am excited to see them the next day for a meeting, or give them a thanks! But I will probably start cutting back on this because it is not necessary.
I agree with that. I know when I first started writing emails I would use a lot of exclamation marks because I was excited and wanted to generate excitement and get my tone across. However, I realize that as we go into the professional world that people do not like when there are so many exclamation marks. I think it makes you sound juvenile unless it’s used very rarely and for the correct purpose.
I disagree. I think that exclamation points make a huge difference to the receiver. While I too would avoid using them in a technical work, I see no reason to avoid using them in a professional setting. I read emails that lack exclamation points as dry and the author is unexcited and dispassionate. This infographic seemed to take a very cynical look at their usage, but I for one will not stop using them. They are a great show of my personality and I can think of only very few people who I would stop to consider if I should delete my exclamation points.
I agree with Katie. I think exclamation points are appropriate for emails in the workplace, unless you are writing to someone you are not familiar with or someone in an authority position.
I thought that this infographic about exclamation points was very funny, especially the spoiler alert at the beginning. I use exclamation points all the time when I am texting my friends or communicating on social media, but this form of punctuation just does not really have a place in professional writing. I think the only time it can really be used is when corresponding more casually with a coworker over email. I have found that I often try to generate excitement by using exclamation points in emails with an organization I’m involved in on campus, but I think it is a good reminder to try harder to generate excitement through the words that I use.
This is very interesting topic, I never thought the Exclamation is a big deal. However, the InfographicInspiration and the article make a lot of sense to me. Especially, the one of three explanations: Use Words: Words are uniquely capable of conveying emotions and information. Punctuation is not. Well, yes. If we could explain some emotions with words, why not just go for it. But I do think there are some solutions we don’t know how to express our emotion then Exclamation might be works.
Actually, I think then Exclamation is very help in a conversation to me. There are sometimes I heard something from someone with emotion, in that couple seconds, I maybe just cannot think about anything, the using Exclamation is usually a way to avoid awkwardness. However, I also agree that We rely on exclamation points far too heavily when what we really need to do is go back to our words.
I am definitely guilty of over utilizing exclamation points. Sometimes when I send email thanking someone for a favor, I like to add an exclamation point to emphasise how grateful I am for their help, however I suppose this really isn’t necessary. But I do like the layout of the infographic and the way it describes when it is appropriate to use an exclamation point. From looking at the infographic, and in my own personal opinion, it seems that most case where people incorporate exclamation points, other forms of punctuation are actually more appropriate.
I think that the amount of times that the infographic recommends using exclamation points is about the same amount of times that I do. I think that I tend to shy away from using exclamation points in general, because when I read back what I wrote, it feels artificial to me. Written text (at least the sort I read) isn’t ideal for expressing tone, so I generally leave it to the reader to derive tone exclusively from the words, rather than exclamation points, because exclamation points seem to make my writing uncharacteristically energetic.
I thought this article was very entertaining to read through. It gets the point across in a very effective manner by adding humor to it. I can relate to this topic because I tend to use exclamation marks a lot in my emails, even the professional ones. I use them because I think it lightens up the mood and makes me look more friendly but after reading through this infographic, I realize now that getting straight to the point with words is more effective than using exclamation marks.
I agree with this article that you should try not to use exclamation in the workplace because it can appear unprofessional or childish. In my opinion there are some cases when you can use exclamation points, but they should generally be avoided. I think if you are sending out a non-important or not serious email to co workers it could be okay to include an exclamation point. I think the use of exclamation points mostly depends on the target audience of the document, as well as the content contained within the document. For example, if you are sending an email about a company bbq, and exclamation point could be used. On the other hand, if you are emailing important documents to a superior, then you should definitely not include any exclamation points.
I agree, too. There is no point in using an exclamation point in the workplace because the target audience tends to be people who just need to be informed. The reader doesn’t care of your emotions towards the content that you provide. Either way, an exclamation point is not as clear as words for expressing how you truly feel. But, they are fun to use when I want to add something extra or ensure on a discrete level whether I am excited or serious. So, I agree that they are okay for casual emails. Even then they aren’t necessary. It’s almost like adding sprinkles on a cake. One wouldn’t put sprinkles on a wedding cake though…
I would generally agree with the infographic, as satirical as it is. I do believe that the emphasis that is given through the use of exclamation points can be created through better word choices. If we look at most acclaimed novels, they stray away from complicated punctuation use and instead couple poignant, flowing prose with nothing other than periods. I think the same applies in the professional world: the ideas, moods, voices, tones, etc. that we want to convey in a professional message can be sculpted using well-versed phrasing. Personally, I have found myself using too many exclamation points in my emails, especially to professors. It’s a habit I have been trying to break. Even as I write this, I feel the urge to add one.
I disagree with the article, I’ve received plenty of professional emails that include exclamation points. If the matter is not serious, I don’t see why exclamation points would be a bad idea. Using them when a milestone is reached, or for a “hi” or “thanks” seems perfectly normal to me. A single exclamation point doesn’t seem too bad, but using multiple exclamation points such as “!!!!!!” does seem super unprofessional and similar to texting language. I do agree with the article that just because someone doesn’t use exclamation points and comes across serious in writing does not mean they’re cold-hearted, even though I’m pretty sure that’s satire.
I totally agree with this article. I always use exclamation points to show my feeling. I will use this punctuation when I feel so excited. Sometimes, professors give me great grades, I will say “Thank you so much!!”. I really want the receiver can know how happy I am, but I don’t know maybe this punctuation will make the receiver feel uncomfortable. Furthermore, I like words rather than punctuation. I don’t like seeing too much exclamation points when I use chat app. Sometimes I want to calm him/her down.