Exclamation

An exclamation is an utterance that expresses strong emotion or emphasis. It can be a single-word interjection such as Wow! or a longer exclamatory sentence such as What a remarkable day! In linguistic terms, exclamations convey affective stance and are distinguished from ordinary statements by their forceful tone.

In writing, the exclamation mark (!) signals an exclamation or a command and marks heightened tone at the end of a sentence. English uses it at the end of interjections, imperative clauses, and exclamatory constructions; many other languages have similar punctuation, with some using additional conventions, such as inverted exclamation marks in Spanish.

Exclamatives fall into different categories. Interjections are standalone words or phrases expressing emotion (Alas!, Wow!). Exclamatory sentences may begin with How or What in English (How beautiful this is!) and can also be formed in other languages with dedicated exclamative particles or endings. Exclamations are common in speech and literature to convey intensity, attitude, or emphasis.

Etymology and usage: The word exclamation derives from Latin exclamare, to cry out. The punctuation mark is called an exclamation point or exclamation mark. In formal writing, exclamations are used sparingly to preserve impact; in more informal contexts they convey enthusiasm, surprise, or urgency. In mathematics and computing, the symbol ! has separate technical meanings (factorial, negation) unrelated to rhetoric.