exclamációjel

The exclamációjel, known in English as the exclamation point or exclamation mark, is a punctuation symbol that indicates strong feeling, emphasis, or a command. Its appearance is a simple dot above a vertical line, and it is written as !. The sign was first used in the early 17th century to express excitement or loudness in written language, with early examples appearing in the works of English writers such as Robert Southwell and John Donne. Over time, it became standardized across many European languages, although stylistic conventions differ. In Spanish and French, for example, the exclamációjel is commonly paired with a question mark to form an inverted question and exclamation: ¡¡ and ¿?. In German, the exclamation point is used similarly to the English tradition but with stricter rules about capitalization and punctuation after the mark. In technical writing, the exclamációjel is used sparingly due to readability concerns.

Functional usage includes marking the end of exclamatory sentences that convey surprise, anger, joy, or urgency, as well as indicating interjections or interunique forms. It should not be used for mild excitement or in declarative statements unless a strong emphasis is necessary. A hanging exclamation point can be used in titles or headings to denote a dramatic effect, but in formal grammar it is generally reserved for standard declarative sentences. Typographically, the exclamációjel is considered a short punctuation mark; its spacing is typically tighter than that of a period to maintain sentence rhythm.