Learn English Translation and Essay Writing

Exclamation Mark(!)

The exclamation mark (!), known informally as a bang or a shriek, is used at the end of a sentence or a short phrase expressing very strong feeling.

Examples:

1-     What a lovely flower it is!

2-     That's wonderful!

3-     Armin, don't touch that!

4-     Help!

5-     Good heavens!

6-     Wow!

In the kinds of writing trying to represent ordinary speech as novels, examples like these are quite normal. But, in formal writing, exclamation marks are usually out of place. Using them frequently will give your work a breathless, almost childish, quality.

An exclamation mark is also usual after an exclamation beginning with what or how:

Examples:

1-     What qualified people they are!

2-     How well he played the piano yesterday!

 An exclamation mark is also used to show that a statement is very surprising.

Example:

After months of careful work, the scientists finally opened the tomb. It was empty!

 It is also permissible to use an exclamation mark to draw attention to an interruption.

Example:

On the (rare!) occasion when you use a Latin abbreviation, be sure to punctuate it properly.

 Use exclamation mark only when you're certain it's necessary, and never use more than one exclamation mark together.

This kind of usage is all right in personal letters, but it is completely out of place in formal writing.

Fragments

A fragment is a word or a phrase which stands by itself but which does not make up a complete sentence. Fragments are very common in ordinary speech, in advertisements and even in newspapers. They may be rarely used in formal writing; when used, they should be followed by a full stop, a question mark or an exclamation mark.

Examples:

1- Will the space project be resumed in Iran? Surely yes.

2- an Tractor Sazi Team win Paykan Team? Absolutely!

The judicious use of fragments can add vividness to your writing. They are quite acceptable in informal writing. But don't overdo them. If you use too many fragments, your work will become breathless and disjointed.