The exclamation mark, ! or exclamation point (American English) is a punctuation mark usually used after an interjection or exclamation to indicate strong feelings or to show emphasis. The exclamation mark often marks the end of a sentence, for example: "Watch out!". Similarly, a bare exclamation mark (with nothing before or after) is often used in warning signs. The exclamation mark is often used in writing to make a character seem as though they are shouting and/or excited/surprised.
Graphically, the exclamation mark is represented by variations on the theme of a full stop point with a vertical line above. One theory of its origin posits derivation from a Latin exclamation of joy, namely io, analogous to "hooray"; copyists wrote the Latin word io at the end of a sentence, to indicate expression of joy. Over time, the i moved above the o; that o first became smaller, and (with time) a dot.[2]
Its evolution as a punctuation symbol after the Ancient Era can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when scribes would often add various marks and symbols to manuscripts to indicate changes in tone, pauses, or emphasis.[3] These symbols included the punctus admirativus,[4] a symbol that was similar in shape to the modern exclamation mark and was used to indicate admiration, surprise, or other strong emotions.[5] The modern use of the exclamation mark was supposedly first described in the 14th century by Italian scholar Alpoleio da Urbisaglia.[6][7][8] Literary scholar Florence Hazrat[9] said he "felt very annoyed" that people were reading script with a flat tone, even if it was written to elicit emotions. The exclamation mark was introduced into English printing during this time to show emphasis.[10] It was later called by many names, including point of admiration (1611),[11][a] note of exclamation or admiration (1657),[12] sign of admiration or exclamation,[13] exclamation point (1824),[14] and finally, exclamation mark (1839).[15]
Many older or portable typewriters did not have the exclamation mark. Instead the user typed a full stop and then backspaced and overtyped an apostrophe.[16]
In the 1950s, secretarial dictation and typesetting manuals in America referred to the mark as "bang",[18][19] perhaps from comic books – where the ! appeared in dialogue balloons to represent a gun being fired[20] – although the nickname probably emerged from letterpress printing.[21] This "bang" usage is behind the names of the interrobang, an unconventional typographic character, and a shebang, a feature of Unix computer systems.
In the printing world, the exclamation mark can be called a screamer, a gasper, a slammer, a dog's cock,[22] or a startler.[23]