View source for Exclamation mark

{{short description|Punctuation mark (!) to show strong feelings}}
{{For-multi|"¡"|Inverted question and exclamation marks|speech sound|alveolar click|other uses|! (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Pling|the Swedish lyricist nicknamed Pling|Ingela Forsman}}
{{Infobox punctuation mark
 |mark=!
 |unicode='''Unicode''': {{unichar|0021}}
}}
The '''exclamation mark''' '''{{char|!}}''' (also known as '''exclamation point''' in [[American English]]) is a [[punctuation]] mark usually used after an [[interjection]] or exclamation to indicate strong feelings or to show [[wikt:emphasis|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 frequently used in [[warning sign]]s. Additionally, the exclamation mark is commonly used in writing to make a character seem as though they are shouting, excited, or surprised.

Other uses include:
* In [[mathematics]], it denotes the [[factorial]] operation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Factorial Function ! |url=https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/factorial.html|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=Math is Fun|archive-date=October 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002131215/https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/factorial.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Several computer languages use {{char|!}} at the beginning of an [[expression (computer science)|expression]] to denote logical [[negation]]. For example,{{code|!A}} means "the logical negation of A", also called "not A". This usage has spread to ordinary language (e.g., "!clue" means no-clue or clueless).
* Some languages use [[ǃ]], a symbol that looks like an exclamation mark, to denote a [[click consonant]].

==History==
Graphically, the exclamation mark is represented by variations on the theme of a [[period (punctuation)|period]] with a vertical line above. One theory of its origin posits derivation from a [[Latin]] exclamation of joy, namely {{lang|la|io}}, analogous to "hooray"; copyists wrote the Latin word {{lang|la|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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Partridge |first=Eric |date=1953 |title=You Have a Point There |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lN-KAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA82 |page=82 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0-203-37992-6 |access-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425171540/https://books.google.com/books?id=lN-KAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA82 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The exclamation point — "a sign of failure" |url=https://carsonparkdesign.com/exclamation-points/ |access-date=April 13, 2023 |website=Carson Park Design |language=en-US |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413221402/https://carsonparkdesign.com/exclamation-points/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Its evolution as punctuation can be traced back to the [[Middle Ages]], when scribes would often add various marks and symbols to [[manuscript]]s to indicate changes in [[Tone (linguistics)|tone]], [[Pausa|pauses]], or [[Emphasis (typography)|emphasis]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jensen |first=Priscilla M. |date=April 6, 2023 |title='An Admirable Point' Review: Exclaim Yourself! |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/an-admirable-point-review-exclaim-yourself-ade02c56 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412191910/https://www.wsj.com/articles/an-admirable-point-review-exclaim-yourself-ade02c56 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> These symbols included the punctus admirativus,<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Weiskott">{{Cite journal |last=Weiskott |first=Eric |date=2012 |title=Making Beowulf Scream: Exclamation and the Punctuation of Old English Poetry |jstor=10.5406/jenglgermphil.111.1.0025 |journal=[[The Journal of English and Germanic Philology]] |volume=111 |issue=1 |pages=25–41 |doi=10.5406/jenglgermphil.111.1.0025 |s2cid=163108784 |issn=0363-6941}}</ref> a symbol that was similar in shape to the modern exclamation mark and was used to indicate admiration, surprise, or other strong emotions.<ref name="Weiskott" /> The modern use of the exclamation mark was supposedly first described in the 14th century by Italian scholar Alpoleio da Urbisaglia.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Silla |first=Mirko |date=December 3, 2021 |title=Iacopo Alpoleio, l'urbisalviense che inventò il punto esclamativo |url=https://junior.cronachemaceratesi.it/2021/12/03/alpoleio-lurbisalviense-che-invento-il-punto-esclamativo/63322/ |access-date=April 13, 2023 |website=CM Junior |language=it-IT |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413221402/https://junior.cronachemaceratesi.it/2021/12/03/alpoleio-lurbisalviense-che-invento-il-punto-esclamativo/63322/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |type=Review |title=An Admirable Point: A Brief History of the Exclamation Mark! |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781567927870 |access-date=April 13, 2023 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413221402/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781567927870 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 - Word of Mouth, Exclamation Marks!! - Exclamation Marks!! Why do we love to hate them? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3QcsHvWyxYtlkcqdM71lbV3/exclamation-marks-why-do-we-love-to-hate-them |access-date=April 13, 2023 |website=[[BBC]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413222902/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3QcsHvWyxYtlkcqdM71lbV3/exclamation-marks-why-do-we-love-to-hate-them |url-status=live}}</ref> According to 21st-century literary scholar Florence Hazrat,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hazrat |first=Florence |date=November 17, 2022 |title=I'm spontaneous! I'm sincere! I'm infantile and deeply annoying! How the exclamation mark divided the world |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/nov/17/im-spontaneous-im-sincere-im-infantile-and-deeply-annoying-how-the-exclamation-mark-divided-the-world |access-date=April 13, 2023 |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413221359/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/nov/17/im-spontaneous-im-sincere-im-infantile-and-deeply-annoying-how-the-exclamation-mark-divided-the-world |url-status=live}}</ref> da Urbisaglia "felt very annoyed" that people were reading script with a flat tone, even when written to elicit emotions. The exclamation mark was introduced into English printing during this time to show [[emphasis (typography)|emphasis]].<ref name=truss>{{cite book |last=Truss |first=Lynne |year=2004 |title=Eats, Shoots & Leaves: the zero tolerance approach to punctuation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ubcEuLPLzG4C&pg=PA137 |publisher=[[Gotham Books]] |location=New York |page=137 |isbn=1-59240-087-6 |access-date=September 6, 2022 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018003052/https://books.google.com/books?id=ubcEuLPLzG4C&pg=PA137 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was later called by many names, including ''point of admiration'' (1611),<ref>{{cite book |last=Cotgrave |first=Randle |title=A dictionarie of the French and English tongues. |date=1611 |publisher=Printed by A. Islip |page=[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32435017716812?urlappend=%3Bseq=26%3Bownerid=13510798903251341-30 26] |hdl=2027/osu.32435017716812 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32435017716812 |quote=Admiratif, Th'admirative point, or point of admiration (and of detestation) marked, or made, thus !}}</ref>{{efn|"admiration" referred to its [[Latin]]-language sense, of wonderment.{{r|truss}}}} ''note of exclamation or admiration'' (1657),<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith |first=John |title=The mysterie of rhetorique unvail'd, wherein above 130 of the tropes and figures are severally derived from the Greek into English, together with lively definitions and variety of Latin, English, Scriptural, examples, pertinent to each of them apart ... |date=1657 |publisher=Printed by E. Cotes for George Eversden |location=London |page=[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32435004505780?urlappend=%3Bseq=286%3Bownerid=13510798904159051-290 259] |hdl=2027/osu.32435004505780 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32435004505780}}</ref> ''sign of admiration or exclamation'',<ref>{{cite book |last=MacKellar |first= Thomas |year=1885 |title=The American Printer: A Manual of Typography, Containing Practical Directions for Managing all Departments of a Printing Office, As Well as Complete Instructions for Apprentices: With Several Useful Tables, Numerous Schemes for Imposing Forms in Every Variety, Hints to Authors, Etc. |edition=Fifteenth - Revised and Enlarged |publisher=[[Binny & Ronaldson|MacKellar, Smiths & Jordan]] |location=Philadelphia |page=51 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T-0YAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA51}}</ref> ''exclamation point'' (1824),<ref>{{cite book |last=Murray |first=Lindley |date=1824 |title=English grammar |publisher=J.B. Baldwin |location=Bridgeport, Conn. |page=[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044097056824?urlappend=%3Bseq=243%3Bownerid=27021597764263980-259 243] |hdl=2027/hvd.32044097056824 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044097056824}}</ref> and finally, ''exclamation mark'' (1839).<ref>{{cite book |last=Goodenow |first=Smith B. |date=1839 |title=A systematic text-book of English grammar: on a new plan: with copious questions and exercises |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$b257804 |publisher=William Hyde |location=Portland |page=[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$b257804?urlappend=%3Bseq=58%3Bownerid=9007199259564681-62 52] |hdl=2027/uc1.$b257804}}</ref>

Many older or portable [[typewriter]]s did not have the exclamation mark. Instead, the user typed a [[period (punctuation)|period]] and then backspaced and overtyped an [[apostrophe]].<ref>{{harvnb|Truss|2004|page=135}}</ref>

==Slang and other names for the exclamation mark==
Now obsolete, the name ''[[wiktionary:ecphoneme|ecphoneme]]'' was documented in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite book |year=1913 |author=[[Frank H. Vizetelly]] |title=The Preparation of Manuscripts for the Printer |edition=5th revised |publisher=[[Funk & Wagnalls]] |page=51 |quote=The note of exclamation or ecphoneme is used after a word or phrase to express sudden emotion, and is sometimes repeated for emphasis.}}</ref>

In the 1950s, secretarial dictation and typesetting manuals in America referred to the mark as "bang",<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilkinson |first=Clyde |title=Communicating through letters and reports |year=1955 |publisher=Richard Irwin |isbn=0-256-02270-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/communicatingthr00wilk/page/651 651] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/communicatingthr00wilk}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hendrickson |first=Robert |title=The literary life and other curiosities |year=1982 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |page=358 }}</ref> perhaps from comic books – where the ! appeared in dialogue bubbles to represent a gun being fired<ref>{{cite web|title=ASCII Pronunciation Guide|url=http://ascii-table.com/pronunciation-guide.php#01|access-date=October 19, 2011|archive-date=October 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024233223/http://ascii-table.com/pronunciation-guide.php#01|url-status=live}}</ref> – although the nickname probably emerged from letterpress printing.<ref>{{cite web |last=Haley |first=Allan |date=March 2008 |title=Punctuation |url=http://www.dynamicgraphics.com/dgm/Article/28859/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313182231/http://dynamicgraphics.com/dgm/Article/28859/index.html |archive-date=March 13, 2012}}</ref> This "bang" usage is behind the names of the [[interrobang]], an unconventional typographic character, and the [[Shebang (Unix)|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,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eveleth |first=Rose |author-link=Rose Eveleth |date=August 9, 2012 |title=The History of the Exclamation Point |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-history-of-the-exclamation-point-16445416/ |access-date=November 18, 2022 |website=[[Smithsonian Magazine]] |language=en |archive-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118195849/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-history-of-the-exclamation-point-16445416/ |url-status=live }}</ref> or a startler.<ref>{{harvnb|Truss|2004|page=136}}: "Everyone knows the exclamation mark – or exclamation point, as it is known in America. It comes at the end of a sentence, is unignorable and hopelessly heavy-handed, and is known in the newspaper world as a screamer, a gasper, a startler or (sorry) a dog's cock."</ref>

In [[Hacker (programmer subculture)|hacker culture]], the exclamation mark is called "bang", "shriek", or, in the British slang known as Commonwealth Hackish, "{{lang|en-GB|pling}}". For example, the password communicated in the spoken phrase "Your password is em-zero-pee-aitch-bang-en-three" ("{{lang|en-GB|em-nought-pee-aitch-pling-en-three}}" in Commonwealth Hackish) is <code>m0ph!n3</code>.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/B/bang.html |title=bang |work=[[The Jargon File]] |version=4.4.8 |access-date=July 9, 2018 |archive-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619091226/http://catb.org/jargon/html/B/bang.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Languages==
The exclamation mark is mainly used in languages that use the [[Latin alphabet]], although usage slightly varies. It has also been adopted in languages written in other scripts, such as languages written with [[Cyrillic script|Cyrillic]] or [[Arabic script|Arabic]] scripts, [[Chinese characters]], and [[Devanagari]].

===English===
A sentence ending in an exclamation mark may represent an [[Sentence (linguistics)|exclamation]] or an [[Sentence (linguistics)|interjection]] (such as "Wow!", "Boo!"), or an [[imperative mood|imperative]] ("Stop!"), or may indicate astonishment or surprise: "They were the footprints of a gigantic hound!" Exclamation marks are occasionally placed mid-sentence with a function similar to a comma, for dramatic effect, although this usage is obsolete: "On the walk, oh! there was a frightful noise."<ref>{{cite web |last=Poe |first=Edgar Allen |title=''The Tell-Tale Heart'' |url=http://www.eapoe.org/works/tales/thearta.htm |website=The Edgar Allen Poe Society of Baltimore |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123052256/https://www.eapoe.org/works/tales/thearta.htm |archive-date=November 23, 2017 }}. ''"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed! — tear up the planks! — here, here! — it is the beating of his hideous heart!"''</ref>

Informally, exclamation marks may be repeated for additional emphasis ("That's great!!!"), but this practice is generally considered unacceptable in formal prose.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 23, 2008 |title=Effective use of email |url=http://www.e-strategyguide.gov.au/make_email_work/effective_email |publisher=Government of Australia, Dept. of Broadband |work=E-strategy guide |access-date=August 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929231639/http://www.e-strategyguide.gov.au/make_email_work/effective_email |archive-date=September 29, 2009 }}</ref>

The exclamation mark is sometimes used in conjunction with the [[question mark]]. This can be in protest or astonishment ("Out of all places, the squatter-camp?!"); a few writers replace this with a single, nonstandard punctuation mark, the [[interrobang]], which is the combination of a question mark and an exclamation mark.<ref>{{cite web|title=upsidedownexclamationpoint.com |url=http://www.upsidedownexclamationpoint.com/|website=UpsideDownExclamationPoint|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718041608/http://www.upsidedownexclamationpoint.com/|archive-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref>

Overly frequent use of the exclamation mark is generally considered poor writing, as it distracts the reader and decreases the mark's significance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Terminal punctuation identifies the end of a sentence, and most commonly includes periods, question marks, and exclamation points. |url=https://www.boundless.com/writing/textbooks/boundless-writing-textbook/style-structure-grammar-5/punctuation-31/choosing-correct-end-punctuation-145-9261/|access-date=April 6, 2015|website=[[Boundless (company)|Boundless]]|archive-date=April 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416013723/https://www.boundless.com/writing/textbooks/boundless-writing-textbook/style-structure-grammar-5/punctuation-31/choosing-correct-end-punctuation-145-9261/|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Linnell|first=Garry|date=February 9, 2017|title=Donald Trump has murdered the English language with exclamation marks|url=http://www.smh.com.au/comment/donald-trump-has-murdered-the-english-language-20170209-gu9h28.html|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date= February 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210162753/http://www.smh.com.au/comment/donald-trump-has-murdered-the-english-language-20170209-gu9h28.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=Cut out all these exclamation points... An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.|author=[[F. Scott Fitzgerald]]<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Graham|first1=Sheilah|last2=Frank|first2=Gerold|title=Beloved Infidel: The Education of a Woman|url=https://fitzgerald.narod.ru/bio/graham-belinfid01.html|date=1959|publisher=[[Bantam Books]]|location=New York|page=149|archive-date=March 19, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.org/details/belovedinfideled0000grah_i9j2/mode/2up}}</ref>}}

Some authors, most notably [[Tom Wolfe]], are known for unashamedly liberal use of the exclamation mark. In [[comic book]]s, the very frequent use of exclamation mark is common—see [[#Comics|Comics]], below.

For information on the use of spaces after an exclamation mark, see the discussion of [[Full stop#Spacing after a full stop|spacing after a period]].

Several studies have shown that women use exclamation marks more than men do. One study suggests that, in addition to other uses, exclamation marks may also function as markers of friendly interaction, for example, by making "Hi!" or "Good luck!" seem friendlier than simply "Hi." or "Good luck." (with periods).<ref name="Carol">{{cite web |author=Carol Waseleski |title=Gender and the Use of Exclamation Points in Computer-Mediated Communication: An Analysis of Exclamations Posted to Two Electronic Discussion Lists |url=http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol11/issue4/waseleski.html |publisher=[[Indiana University]] |access-date=October 12, 2012 |doi=10.1111/(ISSN)1083-6101 |archive-date=September 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913080814/http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol11/issue4/waseleski.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, use of exclamation marks in contexts that are not unambiguously positive can be misinterpreted as indicating hostility.<ref name="Carol" />

In English writing and often [[Subtitle (captioning)|subtitles]], a '''(!)''' symbol (an exclamation mark within [[Bracket#Parentheses|parentheses]]) implies that a character has made an obviously [[sarcasm|sarcastic]] comment e.g.: "''Ooh, a sarcasm detector. That's a '''really useful''' invention(!)''"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1210_how_to_converse/page13.shtml |title=Being sarcastic |publisher=[[BBC World Service]] |work=Learning English - How To |access-date=July 31, 2008 |archive-date=April 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423201910/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1210_how_to_converse/page13.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> It also is used to indicate surprise at one's own experience or statement.

===French===
In French, as well as marking exclamations or indicating astonishment, the exclamation mark is commonly used to mark orders or requests: {{lang|fr|Viens ici{{nnbsp}}!}} (English: 'Come here!'). When available, a [[Non-breaking space#Width variation|'narrow no-break space']] ({{lang|fr|espace fine insécable}}) is used between the last word and the exclamation mark in European French. If not, a regular [[non-breaking space]] ({{lang|fr|espace insécable}}) is currently used. In Canadian French, either no space is used or a small space ({{lang|fr|espace fine insécable}}) is inserted if available. One can also combine an exclamation mark with a question mark at the end of a sentence where appropriate.

===German===
[[German language|German]] uses the exclamation mark for several things that English conveys with other [[punctuation]]:<ref>{{cite web|title=Ausrufezeichen|url=https://www.duden.de/sprachwissen/rechtschreibregeln/ausrufezeichen|website=[[Duden]]|language=de|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=May 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526052121/https://www.duden.de/sprachwissen/rechtschreibregeln/ausrufezeichen|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fragezeichen & Ausrufezeichen |url=https://www.cafe-lingua.de/deutsche-grammatik/gebrauch-frage-ausrufezeichen.php|website=Gelernt mit Bernd!|language=de|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731095639/https://www.cafe-lingua.de/deutsche-grammatik/gebrauch-frage-ausrufezeichen.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
* It is used at the end of [[imperative mood|imperative]] sentences, even when not particularly emphatic: {{lang|de|Ruf mich morgen an!}} (English: 'Call me tomorrow.') A normal period, as in English, is fairly common but is considered substandard.
* A related use is on signs that express a command or interdiction: {{lang|de|Betreten verboten!}} (English: 'No trespassing!').
* The exclamation mark may also be used in the salutation line of a letter: {{lang|de|Lieber Hans!}} (English: 'Dear Hans,'), especially in Austrian German. However, the use of a [[Comma (punctuation)|comma]] is equally correct and is more common.

===Cantonese===
Cantonese has not historically used dedicated punctuation marks, rather relying on grammatical markers to denote the end of a statement. Usage of exclamation marks is common in written [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] and in some [[Yue Chinese|Yue]] speaking regions.<ref name="routledge">{{cite book|last1=Shei|first1=Chris|last2=Gao|first2=Zhao-Ming|year=2017|title=The Routledge Handbook of Chinese Translation |publisher=[[Routledge]]|pages=334–337|isbn=9781317383024|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CyE6DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT334}}</ref> The [[Guangdong|Canton]] and [[Hong Kong]] regions, however, generally refused to accept the exclamation mark as it was seen as carrying with it unnecessary and confusing Western connotations; however, an exclamation mark, including in some written representations of colloquy in [[Written Cantonese|Cantonese]], can be used informally to indicate strong feeling.

===Greek===
In [[Modern Greek]], the exclamation mark ({{lang|el|Θαυμαστικό}}, {{lang|el-Latn|thavmastikó}}) has been introduced from [[Latin script]]s and is used identically, although without the reluctance seen in [[#English|English usage]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Nicolas|first=Nick |date=September 16, 2003|title="Greek Unicode Issues: Punctuation" |url=http://www.tlg.uci.edu/~opoudjis/unicode/punctuation.html|access-date=October 7, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120806003722/http://www.tlg.uci.edu/~opoudjis/unicode/punctuation.html|archive-date=August 6, 2012}}</ref> A minor grammatical difference is that, while a series of interjections each employ an exclamation mark (e.g., {{lang|el|Ωχ! Αχ!}}, [{{lang|el-Latn|Ōch! Ach!}}, 'Oops! Oh!']), an interjection should only be separated from an extended exclamation by a comma (e.g., {{lang|el|Ωχ, ξέχασα το μάτι της κουζίνας ανοιχτό!}}, {{lang|el-Latn|Ōch, xéchasa to máti tīs kouzínas anoichtó!}}, 'Oops! I left the stove on.').

===Hungarian===
In [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], an exclamation mark is put at the end of exclamatory, imperative or prohibitive sentences, and sentences expressing a wish (e.g. {{lang|hu|De szép!}} – 'How beautiful!', {{lang|hu|A fűre lépni tilos!}} – 'Keep off the grass', {{lang|hu|Bárcsak sikerülne a tervem!}} – 'If only my plan would work out.'). The use of the exclamation mark is also needed when addressing someone and the addressing is a separate sentence. (typically at the beginning of letters, e.g. {{lang|hu|Kedves Péter!}} – 'Dear Peter,').<ref>{{cite web |date=September 1, 2015 |title=A magyar helyesírás szabályai (AkH.) |url=https://helyesiras.mta.hu/helyesiras/default/akh |website=Helyesirasi Tanácsadó Portál |access-date=March 11, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055542/https://helyesiras.mta.hu/helyesiras/default/akh |url-status=live }}</ref>
Greetings are also typically terminated with an exclamation mark (e.g. {{lang|hu|Jó estét!}} – 'Good evening.').

===Solomon Islands Pidgin===
In [[Solomon Islands Pidgin]], the phrase may be between admiration marks. Compare {{lang|pis|Nomoa.}} ("No.") and {{lang|pis|!Nomoa nao!}} ("Certainly not!").<ref>{{cite book|last=Lee|first=Ernie|title=Pidgin phrasebook|date=1999|publisher=[[Lonely Planet Publications]] |location=Hawthorn, Vic., Australia|isbn=0864425872|pages=63–64 |edition=2nd|language=en}}</ref>

===Spanish===
[[File:Billboard at Montjuïc, Barcelona (detail).jpg|thumb|Trilingual billboard in [[Barcelona]] (detail), showing the initial exclamation mark for Spanish, but not for [[Catalan language|Catalan]] (top line) and English]]
In Spanish, a sentence or clause ending in an exclamation mark must also begin with an [[Inverted question and exclamation marks|inverted exclamation mark]] (the same also applies to the question mark): {{lang|es|¿Estás loco? ¡Casi la matas!}}, 'Are you crazy? You almost killed her!'

As in British English, a bracketed exclamation mark may be used to indicate irony or surprise at a statement: {{lang|es|Dice que esta noche no va a salir de fiesta (!)}}, 'He said that he's not going to a party tonight(!).' Such use is not matched by an inverted opening exclamation mark.<ref name="RAE">{{cite book |title=Diccionario panhispánico de dudas |date=2005 |publisher=[[Real Academia Española]] |url=https://www.rae.es/dpd/interrogaci%C3%B3n |access-date=January 14, 2023 |language=es |chapter=interrogación y exclamación (signos de) 3. a) |archive-date=December 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226084701/https://www.rae.es/dpd/interrogaci%C3%B3n |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Turkish===
In [[Turkish language|Turkish]], an exclamation mark is used after a sentence or phrase for [[:wikt:emphasis|emphasis]], and is common following both commands and the addressees of such commands. For example, in the {{lang|tr|Ordular! İlk hedefiniz Akdenizdir, ileri!}} ('Armies! Your first target is the Mediterranean') order by [[Atatürk]], {{lang|tr|ordular}} ('the armies') constitute the addressee. It is further used in parentheses, {{lang|tr|(!)}}, after a sentence or phrase to indicate [[irony]] or [[sarcasm]]: {{lang|tr|Çok iyi bir iş yaptın (!)}}, 'You've done a very good job – [[Not!]]'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ünlem İşareti ( ! ) |url=https://www.turkedebiyati.org/unlem-isareti/ |access-date=April 13, 2023 |website=[[Turk Edebiyati]] |language=tr |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413221401/https://www.turkedebiyati.org/unlem-isareti/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Limbu===
In [[Limbu language|Limbu]], an exclamation mark ({{lang|lif|᥄}}) is used after a Limbu sentence or phrase for [[:wikt:emphasis|emphasis]], and is common following both commands and the addressees of such commands. For example, in the Limbu sentence {{lang|lif|ᤐᤚᤢ᥄ ᤄᤨᤘᤑ ᤂᤥᤆᤌᤙ Mediterranean, ᤚᤦᤛᤅ᥄}} ({{lang|lif-Latn|Paṡu! Ghōwapha khōcathaśa Mediterranean, ṡausaṅa!}}, 'Armies! Your first target is the ''Mediterranean''!').

It is further used in parentheses, ({{lang|lif|᥄}}), after a sentence or phrase to indicate [[irony]] or [[sarcasm]]: {{lang|lif|ᤖᤥᤂᤌ ᤔᤚᤗ ᤐᤤ ᤊᤇ ᤃᤦᤄ (᥄)}} ({{lang|lif-Latn|Rōkhatha maṡala pai yancha gaugha (!)}}, 'You did a very good job — [[Not!]]').<ref>{{cite web |last1=Michailovsky|first1=Boyd|last2=Everson|first2=Michael|title=L2/02-055: Revised proposal to encode the Limbu script in the UCS |url=https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2002/02055-n2410.pdf|date=February 5, 2002|access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref>

===Phonetics===
In [[Khoisan languages]], and the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]], a symbol that looks like the exclamation mark is used as a letter to indicate the [[postalveolar click]] sound (represented as ''q'' in [[Zulu language|Zulu]] orthography). It is actually a vertical bar with underdot. In [[Unicode]], this letter is properly coded as {{unichar|01C3|latin letter retroflex click}} and distinguished from the common punctuation symbol {{unichar|0021|exclamation mark}} to allow software to deal properly with word breaks.

The exclamation mark has sometimes been used as a [[Phonetic notation|phonetic symbol]] to indicate that a consonant is [[ejective consonant|ejective]]. More commonly this is represented by an [[apostrophe]], or a [[superscript]] [[glottal stop]] symbol ({{unichar|02c0|Modifier letter glottal stop}}).

==Proper names==
Although not part of dictionary words, exclamation marks appear in some [[brand names]] and [[trade name]]s, including [[Yum! Brands]] (parent of fast food chains like [[Taco Bell]] and [[KFC]]), [[World Wide Web|Web]] services [[Yahoo!]] and [[Joomla!]], and the online game [[Kahoot!]]. (Some media [[style guide]]s, including those of [[Reuters]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters Handbook of Journalism |date=April 2008 |url=https://www.mediareform.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Reuters_Handbook_of_Journalism.pdf |page=113 |quote=Eliminate exclamation points from company names, such as Yahoo! and Yum!.}}</ref> and ''[[The Economist]]'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Johnson: When is a rule not a rule? |url=https://www.economist.com/prospero/2013/10/01/johnson-when-is-a-rule-not-a-rule |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 22, 2025 |date=October 1, 2013 |quote=a category of style choices at The Economist that includes ... stripping Yahoo and Yum Brands of the exclamation points they would have us use in their names}}</ref> omit such marks from trade names.)  It appears in the titles of some stage and screen works, especially comedies and [[musical theatre|musicals]]; examples include the [[game show]] ''[[Jeopardy!]]''; the '60s musical TV show ''[[Shindig!]]''; musicals ''[[Oklahoma!]]'', ''[[Mamma Mia! (musical)|Mamma Mia!]]'', ''[[Oliver!]]'' and ''[[Oh! Calcutta!]]''; and movies ''[[Airplane!]]'' and ''[[Moulin Rouge!]]''. In the 1970s the exclamation mark fell out of favour for major musicals, but has remained common in ironic or parody titles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Grode |first=Eric |date=April 28, 2016 |title=Broadway Shows Get the Point! Again! |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/theater/broadway-shows-get-the-point-again.html |access-date=April 22, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=AR9 |language=en}}</ref> Writer [[Elliot S! Maggin]] and cartoonist [[Scott Shaw!]] include exclamation marks in their names. In the 2016 United States presidential campaign, Republican candidate [[Jeb Bush]] used "Jeb!" as his campaign logo.<ref name=":1" />

===Place names===
[[File:Westward Ho!.jpg|thumb|Road sign marking the entrance to Westward Ho!]]
The [[England|English]] town of [[Westward Ho!]], named after [[Westward Ho! (novel)|the novel]] by [[Charles Kingsley]], is the only place name in the United Kingdom that officially contains an exclamation mark.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Poole|first1=Steven |last2=Frizzell|first2=Nell|date=March 7, 2016|title=Should children be told to not use exclamation marks?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/07/children-use-exclamation-marks-department-education|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=October 27, 2021|archive-date=October 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027185314/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/07/children-use-exclamation-marks-department-education|url-status=live}}</ref> There is a town in [[Quebec]] called [[Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!]], which is spelled with two exclamation marks.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 20, 2017|title=Saint Louis du Ha!Ha! gets Guinness World Record nod for its exclamation marks|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/saint-louis-du-ha-ha-guiness-world-record-1.4298482|publisher=[[CBC.ca]]|access-date=October 27, 2021|archive-date=September 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917200341/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/saint-louis-du-ha-ha-guiness-world-record-1.4298482|url-status=live}}</ref> The city of [[Hamilton, Ohio]], changed its name to Hamilton! in 1986, but neither the [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] nor mapmakers [[Rand McNally]] recognized the change.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 14, 1986 |title=Hamilton! (Cont'd.) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1986/08/15/hamilton-contd/dd31958b-0e75-4a0e-affb-a4d589686c16/?noredirect=on |access-date=September 11, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513132623/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1986/08/15/hamilton-contd/dd31958b-0e75-4a0e-affb-a4d589686c16/?noredirect=on |url-status=live }}</ref> The city of [[Ostrava]], [[Czech Republic]], changed its logotype to Ostrava!!! in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ostrava.cz/en/o-meste/logo-mesta-ostravy/logo-mesta-ostravy-en|title=Logo of the City of Ostrava |work=OSTRAVA!!!|access-date=March 9, 2013|archive-date=June 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623235947/http://www.ostrava.cz/en/o-meste/logo-mesta-ostravy/logo-mesta-ostravy-en|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Warnings==
[[File:Achtung.svg|thumb |left|upright 0.6|A hazard [[warning sign]] with an exclamation mark.]]
[[File:Cattle stop sign - New Zealand.jpg|thumb|New Zealand road sign warning of a "cattle stop" ([[cattle grid]]/cattle guard)]]

Exclamation marks are used to emphasize a [[precautionary statement]]. On [[warning sign]]s, an exclamation mark is often used to draw attention to a warning of danger, hazards, and the unexpected. These signs are common in hazardous environments or on potentially dangerous equipment. A common type of this warning is a yellow [[triangle]] with a black exclamation mark, but a white triangle with a red border is common on [[Europe]]an [[Warning sign|road warning signs]]. (In most cases, a pictogram indicating the nature of the hazard is enclosed in the triangle but an exclamation mark may be used instead as a generic symbol; a plate beneath identifies the hazard.)

{{clr}}
==Use in various fields==
[[File:Zirkel der Hubertia Freiburg.jpg|thumb|''Zirkel'' of ''[[Corps Hubertia Freiburg]]'']]
The [[Zirkel (Studentenverbindung)|''Zirkel'']] monogram of a German ''[[Studentenverbindung]]'' includes an exclamation mark if the society is still active.

===Mathematics and formal logic===
{{anchor|Mathematics|reason=Original heading title.}}
{{further|Glossary of mathematical symbols}}
In elementary [[mathematics]], the symbol represents the [[factorial]] operation.<ref name=":0" /> The expression {{mvar|n}}! means "the product of the [[integers]] from 1 to {{mvar|n}}". For example, 4! (read ''four factorial'') is 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 24. (0! is defined as 1,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Weisstein|first=Eric W.|title=Factorial|url=https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Factorial.html|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=[[Wolfram MathWorld]]|language=en |archive-date=October 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002092002/https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Factorial.html|url-status=live}}</ref> which is a [[neutral element]] in [[multiplication]], not multiplied by anything.) Additionally, it can also represent the [[uniqueness quantification|uniqueness quantifier]] or,<ref>{{Cite web|title=2.5 Uniqueness Arguments |url=https://www.whitman.edu/mathematics/higher_math_online/section02.05.html|website=[[Whitman College]]|access-date=December 15, 2019}}</ref> if used in front of a number, it can represent a [[subfactorial]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Cajori |first=Florian |author-link=Florian Cajori |year=2011 |title=A History of Mathematical Notations: Two volumes in one |publisher=Cosimo, Inc. |isbn=9781616405717 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=gxrO8ZnMK_YC&pg=RA1-PA77 77] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gxrO8ZnMK_YC&pg=RA1-PA77 }}</ref>

In [[linear logic]], the exclamation mark denotes one of the modalities that control weakening and contraction.

===Computing===
In [[computing]], the exclamation mark is [[ASCII]] [[character (computing)|character]] 33 (21 in [[hexadecimal]]). Due to its availability even on early computers, the character was used for many purposes. The name given to "!" by programmers varies according to their background, though it was very common to give it a short name to make reading code aloud easier. "Bang"<ref>{{cite book |title= The New Hacker's Dictionary|edition=3rd|last= Raymond|first= Eric S.|year= 1996|publisher= The MIT Press|isbn= 978-0-262-68092-9|page=55}}</ref> is very popular. In the UK the term [[pling]] was popular in the earlier days of computing, whilst in the United States, the term [[Vociferation|shriek]] was used. It is claimed that these word usages were invented in the US and ''shriek'' is from Stanford or MIT; however, ''shriek'' for the ! sign is found in the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' dating from the 1860s.

Many computer languages using [[C programming language|C-style syntax]] use "!" for [[Negation#Programming language and ordinary language|logical negation]]; {{code|!A}} means "not A", and {{code|1=A != B}} means "A is [[inequation|not equal]] to B". This negation principle has spread to ordinary language; for example, the word "!clue" is used as a synonym for "no-clue" or "clueless".<ref>[[Eric S. Raymond|Raymond, Eric]] and Steele, Guy. [https://books.google.com/books?id=g80P_4v4QbIC&pg=PA18 The New Hacker's Dictionary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408040118/https://books.google.com/books?id=g80P_4v4QbIC&pg=PA18 |date=2023-04-08 }}, p. 18 (MIT Press 1996).</ref><ref>Munat, Judith.  [https://books.google.com/books?id=UOPXXYslemYC&pg=PA148 Lexical Creativity, Texts and Context] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408085757/https://books.google.com/books?id=UOPXXYslemYC&pg=PA148 |date=2023-04-08 }}, p. 148 (John Benjamins Publishing, 2007).</ref> The symbol in formal logic for [[negation]] is {{code|¬}} but, as this symbol is not present as standard on most keyboards, the C convention has spread informally to other contexts.

Early [[e-mail]] systems also used the exclamation mark as a separator character between hostnames for routing information, usually referred to as "[[bang path]]" notation.

In the [[Internet Relay Chat|IRC]] protocol, a user's nickname and [[Identifier|ident]] are separated by an exclamation mark in the [[hostmask]] assigned to him or her by the server.

In [[UNIX]] scripting (typically for [[UNIX shell]] or [[Perl]]), "!" is usually used after a "#" in the first line of a script, the [[interpreter directive]], to tell the OS what program to use to run the script. {{code|#!}} is usually called a "hash-bang" or [[shebang (Unix)|shebang]]. A similar convention for [[PostScript]] files calls for the first line to begin with {{code|%!}}, called "percent-bang".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/ps/5001.DSC_Spec.pdf |title=PostScript Language Document Structuring Conventions (DSC) Specification Version 3.0 |author=Adobe Developer Support |date=25 September 1992 |website=Developer Resources |publisher=Adobe Systems Incorporated |access-date=2016-03-07 |page=92 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417234413/http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/ps/5001.DSC_Spec.pdf |archive-date=17 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

An exclamation mark starts [[Command history|history]] expansions in many [[Unix shell]]s such as [[Bash (Unix shell)|bash]] and [[tcsh]] where {{code|!!}} executes the previous command and {{code|!*}} refers to all of the arguments from the previous command.

[[Acorn Computers Ltd|Acorn]] [[RISC OS]] uses filenames starting with pling to create an [[application directory]]: for instance a file called <code>!Run</code> is executed when the folder containing it is double-clicked (holding down shift prevents this). There is also <code>!Boot</code> (executed the first time the application containing it comes into view of the filer), <code>!Sprites</code> (icons), <code>!Help</code>, and others.

In [[APL (programming language)|APL]], {{code|!x}} is used for [[factorial]] of x (backwards from math notation), and also for the [[binomial coefficient]]: {{code|k!n}} means <math>\tbinom nk</math> or {{math|{{frac|''n''!|''k''!(''n''–''k'')!}}}}.

[[BBC BASIC]] used pling as an indirection operator, equivalent to [[PEEK and POKE]] of four [[byte]]s at once.<ref>{{cite book |title=Computers in the laboratory: a student guide to microprocessor interfacing |author=John Littler, John Maher |year=1989 |publisher=Longman |pages=53, 54 |isbn=9780582004726 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9bRFAAAAYAAJ&q=pling+peek+-boo |access-date=30 Jan 2012}}</ref>

[[BCPL]], the precursor of [[C (programming language)|C]], used "!" for pointer and array indirection: {{code|!P}} is equivalent to {{code|*P}} in C, and {{code|P!3}} is equivalent to {{code|P[3]}} in C.

In the [[Xbase]] family of programming languages, which includes [[dBase]] and [[FoxPro]], an exclamation mark, when used as part of an expression, indicates negation. For example, != means "not equal to". At the start of a line of code, it is a synonym for RUN (which executes an external program).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Xbase++ Reference Documentation |url=https://doc.alaska-software.com/ |website=Alaska Software |access-date=23 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Visual FoxPro Reference |url=https://hackfox.github.io/section4/ |website=Hacker’s Guide to Visual FoxPro |publisher=Hentzenwerke Publishing |access-date=23 March 2025}}</ref>

In the [[Haskell (programming language)|Haskell]] programming language, "!" is used to express strictness.

In the [[Kotlin (programming language)|Kotlin]] programming language, "!!" ("double-bang") is the not-null assertion operator, used to override [[Void safety|null safety]] so as to allow a [[null pointer]] exception.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotlinlang.org/docs/null-safety.html#the-operator |title=Null safety |website=Kotlin docs |access-date=2021-01-28 |archive-date=2021-02-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212070227/https://kotlinlang.org/docs/null-safety.html#the-operator |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[ML (programming language)|ML]] programming language (including [[Standard ML]] and [[OCaml]]), "!" is the operator to get the value out of a "reference" data structure.

In the [[Raku (programming language)|Raku]] programming language, the "!" [[Sigil (computer programming)|twigil]] is used to access private attributes or methods in a class (like {{code|class Person { has $!name; }|raku}} or {{code|self!private-method;|raku}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.perl6.org/language/objects#Attributes |title=Object Orientation (Attributes) |website=Perl 6 Documentation |access-date=2017-03-28 |archive-date=2017-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329141346/https://docs.perl6.org/language/objects#Attributes |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[Scheme (programming language)|Scheme]],<ref name="r5rs">{{cite journal |author=Richard Kelsey |date=August 1998 |title=Revised<sup>5</sup> Report on the Algorithmic Language Scheme |url=http://www.schemers.org/Documents/Standards/R5RS/ |journal=Higher-Order and Symbolic Computation |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=7–105 |doi=10.1023/A:1010051815785 |access-date=2012-08-09 |author2=William Clinger |author3=Jonathan Rees |display-authors=3 |last4=Rozas |first4=G.J. |last5=Adams Iv |first5=N.I. |last6=Friedman |first6=D.P. |last7=Kohlbecker |first7=E. |last8=Steele Jr. |first8=G.L. |last9=Bartley |first9=D.H. |s2cid=14069423 |archive-date=2007-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105152327/http://www.schemers.org/Documents/Standards/R5RS/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> [[Julia (programming language)|Julia]],<ref>[The Julia Language documentation https://docs.julialang.org/en/latest/base/base/#Introduction-1 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503021517/https://docs.julialang.org/en/latest/base/base/#Introduction-1 |date=2019-05-03 }}], accessed 8 July 2019.</ref> and [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]] programming languages, "!" is conventionally the suffix for functions and special forms that mutate their input.

In the [[Swift (programming language)|Swift]] programming language, a type followed by "!" denotes an "implicitly unwrapped optional", an [[option type]] where the compiler does not enforce safe unwrapping. The "!" operator "force unwraps" an option type, causing an error if it is nil.

In [[Geek Code]] version 3, "!" is used before a letter to denote that the geek refuses to participate in the topic at hand. In some cases, it has an alternate meaning, such as ''G!'' denoting a geek of no qualifications, ''!d'' denoting not wearing any clothes, ''P!'' denoting not being allowed to use Perl, and so on. They all share some negative connotations, however.

{{code|!}} is used to denote changed lines in [[diff|{{code|diff}}]] output in the {{pslink|diff|context format}}. In the {{pslink|diff|unified format}}, changes to a single line are denoted as an addition and deletion.

===Video games===
The exclamation mark can be used in video games to signify that a character is startled or alarmed. In the ''[[Metal Gear (series)|Metal Gear]]'' and ''[[Paper Mario]]'' series, an exclamation mark appears over enemies' heads when they notice the player.

In [[Massively multiplayer online game|massively multiplayer online (MMO)]] games such as ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', an exclamation mark hovering over a character's head is often used to indicate that they are offering a quest for the player to complete.

In ''[[Dota 2]]'', an exclamation mark is shown above the head of a unit if it is killed by means not granting enemies experience or gold (if it is "denied").

In the 2005 arcade dance simulation game ''[[In the Groove 2]]'', there is a song titled "!" (also referred to as "bang") by the artist Onyx.

===Internet culture===
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2012}}
In [[Internet#Social impact|Internet culture]], especially where [[leet]] is used, multiple exclamation marks may be affixed with the numeral "1" as in ''!!!!!!111''. The notation originates from a common error: when typing multiple exclamation points quickly, the typist may fail to hold the {{keypress|[[shift key|shift]]}}{{keypress|1}} combination that produces the exclamation mark on many [[keyboard layout]]s. This error, first used intentionally as a joke in the leet linguistic community, is now an accepted form of exclamation in leet and derivative dialects such as [[Lolcat|Lolspeak]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gawne|first1=L.|last2=Vaughan|first2=J.|title=I can haz language play: The construction of language and identity in LOLspeak.|journal=Proceedings of the 42nd Australian Linguistic Society Conference - 2011|year=2012|pages=97–122|hdl=1885/9398|isbn=9780980281545}}</ref> Some utterances include further substitutions, for example "!!!111oneeleven".<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Blashki|first1=Katherine|last2=Nichol|first2=Sophie|title=Game Geek's Goss: Linguistic Creativity In Young Males Within An Online University Forum (94/\/\3 933k'5 9055oneone)|journal=Australian Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society|year=2005|volume=3|issue=2|page=78|url=http://www.swinburne.edu.au/hosting/ijets/journal/V3N2/pdf/V3N2-2-Blashki.pdf|access-date=25 November 2012|archive-date=15 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915231116/http://www.swinburne.edu.au/hosting/ijets/journal/V3N2/pdf/V3N2-2-Blashki.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=International journal of emerging technologies and society |url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/tep/85781 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Trove |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413221359/https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/tep/85781 |url-status=live }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In [[fandom]] and [[fanfiction]], ! is used to signify a defining quality in a character, usually signifying an alternative interpretation of a character from a [[Canon (fiction)|canonical]] work. Examples of this would be "Romantic!Draco" or "Vampire!Harry" from [[Harry Potter]] fandom. It is also used to clarify the current persona of a character with multiple identities or appearances, such as to distinguish "Armor![[Alphonse Elric|Al]]" from "Human!Al" in a work based on [[Fullmetal Alchemist]]. The origin of this usage is unknown, although {{citation needed span |date=July 2023 |it is hypothesized to have originated with certain [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] action figures, for example, "Football Player! Leonardo", "Rockstar! Raphael", and "Breakdancer! Michelangelo".}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=! - Fanlore |url=https://fanlore.org/wiki/! |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=fanlore.org |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413221400/https://fanlore.org/wiki/! |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=hosekisama |title=Minstrels of a Hyaena |url=https://hosekisama.tumblr.com/post/90998817920/hey-whats-up-with-the-in-fandoms-ie-fat |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Tumblr |archive-date=2023-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413221400/https://hosekisama.tumblr.com/post/90998817920/hey-whats-up-with-the-in-fandoms-ie-fat |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Comics===
[[File:Action252.jpg|thumb|This ''Action Comics'' cover from 1959 ends every sentence with an exclamation point or [[question mark]]. Often, few or no [[full stop|periods]] would be used in the entire book.]]
Some [[comic book]]s, especially [[superhero]] comics of the mid-20th century, routinely use the exclamation point instead of the period, which means the character has just realized something; unlike when the question mark appears instead, which means the character is confused, surprised or they do not know what is happening. This tends to lead to exaggerated speech, in line with the other [[hyperbole]]s common in comic books. A portion of the motivation, however, was simply that a period might disappear in the printing process used at the time, whereas an exclamation point would likely remain recognizable even if there was a printing glitch. For a short period [[Stan Lee]], as [[editor-in-chief]] of [[Marvel Comics]], attempted to curb their overuse by a short-lived ban on exclamation points altogether, which led to an inadvertent lack of ending punctuation on many sentences.<ref>Cronin, Brian (January 28, 2010). [http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/01/28/comic-book-legends-revealed-245/ Comic Book Legends Revealed #245] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320033524/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/01/28/comic-book-legends-revealed-245/ |date=2013-03-20 }}.  [[Comic Book Resources]].  Retrieved 2010-08-26.</ref>

Comic book writer [[Elliot S. Maggin|Elliot S! Maggin]] once accidentally signed his name with an exclamation due to the habit of using them when writing comic scripts; it became his professional name from then on.<ref>Adams, Eury, Swan (2006). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Fcm4JrX-F54C&q=point&pg=PA141 The Krypton Companion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408040120/https://books.google.com/books?id=Fcm4JrX-F54C&q=point&pg=PA141 |date=2023-04-08 }}. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 141. {{ISBN|978-1-893905-61-0}}. Retrieved 2010-08-25.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Elliot S! Maggin, Super-Scribe! |url=http://superman.nu/esm/ |access-date=March 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129041413/http://superman.nu/esm/ |archive-date=November 29, 2010 }}</ref> Similarly, comic artist [[Scott Shaw (artist)|Scott Shaw!]] has used the exclamation point after his name throughout his career.

In comic books and comics in general, a large exclamation point is often used near or over a character's head to indicate surprise. A [[question mark]] can similarly be used to indicate confusion.

===Chess===
{{Main|Punctuation (chess)}}
In [[Algebraic chess notation|chess notation]] [[Punctuation (chess)#!: Good move|"!"]] denotes a good move, [[Punctuation (chess)#‼: Brilliant move|"!!"]] denotes an excellent move, "?!" denotes a dubious move, and "!?" denotes an interesting, risky move. In some chess variants such as large-board [[Shogi variant]]s, "!" is used to record pieces capturing by stationary feeding or burning.

===''Scrabble''===
In ''[[Scrabble]]'', an exclamation mark written after a word is used to indicate its presence in the [[Official Tournament and Club Word List]] but its absence from the ''[[Official Scrabble Players Dictionary]]'', usually because the word has been judged offensive.

===Baseball===
Exclamation points or [[asterisk]]s can be used on scorecards to denote a "great defensive play".<ref>Holz, Sean. [http://baseball-almanac.com/score2b.shtml Scoring Baseball - Advanced Symbols] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012234604/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/score2b.shtml |date=2011-10-12 }} Baseball-Almanac.com</ref>

===Popular music===
The band [[!!!]] (pronounced "Chk Chk Chk") uses exclamation points as its name.<ref name="NPRatc07">Seabrook, Andrea (May 17, 2007). [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10236467 "The Musicians of&nbsp;!!!: Making Their Own 'Myths' "] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503042123/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10236467 |date=2018-05-03 }} (Audio: Flash or MP3). ''[[All Things Considered]]''. [[NPR]]. Retrieved 2010-08-26.</ref>

In 2008, the pop-punk band [[Panic! at the Disco]] dropped the exclamation point in its name; this became the "most-discussed topic on [fan] message boards around the world".<ref>Montgomery, James; Elias, Matt (January 11, 2008). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1579497/20080111/panic_at_the_disco.jhtml "Panic At The Disco Explain Excised Exclamation Point"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904054724/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1579497/20080111/panic_at_the_disco.jhtml |date=2009-09-04 }}. ''Artist News''. [[MTV News]]. Retrieved 2010-08-26.</ref> In 2009, the exclamation mark was re-inserted following the band's split.<ref>Maura (July 10, 2009). [http://idolator.com/5252292/panic-at-the-disco-post-new-music-restore-their-exclamation-point "Panic! At The Disco Post New Music, Restore Their Exclamation Point"]. Retrieved 2009-07-16.</ref>

The band [[Bomb the Music Industry!]] utilizes an exclamation mark in its name, as well as several album and song titles and promotional material. Examples include their songs "(Shut) Up The Punx!!!" and the album ''[[Adults!!!: Smart!!! Shithammered!!! And Excited by Nothing!!!!!!!]]''.

American musician [[Pink (singer)|Pink]] stylizes her stage name "P!NK",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pinkspage.com/us/pnks-biography-new |title=P!nk's Biography {{pipe}} The Official P!nk Site |publisher=Pinkspage.com |access-date=2012-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713041233/http://www.pinkspage.com/us/pnks-biography-new |archive-date=2012-07-13 }}</ref> and uses three exclamation points in the subtitle of her 2010 release, ''[[Greatest Hits... So Far!!!]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pinkspage.com/us/music/greatest-hits%E2%80%A6so-far-edited |title=P!nk Music: Greatest Hits... So Far!!! (Edited) {{pipe}} The Official P!nk Site |publisher=Pinkspage.com |access-date=2012-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219234201/http://www.pinkspage.com/us/music/greatest-hits%E2%80%A6so-far-edited |archive-date=2012-12-19 }}</ref>

===Television===
The exclamation mark was included in the title of [[Dinah Shore]]'s TV series, ''[[Dinah!]]'' The exclamation mark was later the subject of a bitter argument between [[Elaine Benes]] and her boyfriend, Jake Jarmel, in the ''[[Seinfeld]]'' episode, "[[The Sniffing Accountant]]". Elaine got upset with Jake for not putting an exclamation mark at the end of a message about her friend having a baby. Jake took extreme exception to the trivial criticism and broke up with Elaine, putting an exclamation mark after his parting words: "I'm leaving!"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seinfeld |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/seinfeld/episodes-season-5/1000137994/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413221401/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/seinfeld/episodes-season-5/1000137994/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Unicode code-points (with HTML)==
{{SpecialChars|Unicode}}
* {{unichar|0021|EXCLAMATION MARK}} (HTML <code>&amp;#33;</code>, <code>&amp;excl;</code>{{efn|group=lower-alpha|HTML5 is the only version of HTML that has a named entity for the exclamation mark.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.w3.org/TR/html4/sgml/entities.html |title=24 Character entity references in HTML 4 |access-date=April 7, 2018 |work=[[w3.org]] |quote=The following sections present the complete lists of character entity references |archive-date=April 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401051616/http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/sgml/entities.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.w3.org/TR/2014/CR-html5-20140731/syntax.html#named-character-references |title=A vocabulary and associated APIs for HTML and XHTML |date=July 31, 2014 |access-date=April 7, 2018 |work=[[w3.org]] |quote=excl; |archive-date=August 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805013240/http://www.w3.org/TR/2014/CR-html5-20140731/syntax.html#named-character-references |url-status=live }}</ref>}})

Related forms have these [[code point]]s:
* {{unichar|00a1|INVERTED EXCLAMATION MARK|nlink=Inverted_question_and_exclamation_marks|html=}}
* {{unichar|01c3|LATIN LETTER RETROFLEX CLICK|use=IPA|html=}} (In IPA: [[alveolar click]])
* {{unichar|203C|DOUBLE EXCLAMATION MARK|html=}} (for use in vertical text)
** {{Emoji presentation|‼}} with [[emoji variation selector]]
* {{unichar|203D|Interrobang|nlink=Interrobang|html=}}
* {{unichar|2E18|Inverted Interrobang|nlink=Inverted_question_and_exclamation_marks|html=}}
* {{unichar|2048|QUESTION EXCLAMATION MARK|html=}} (for use in vertical text)
* {{unichar|2049|EXCLAMATION QUESTION MARK|html=}} (for use in vertical text)
** {{Emoji presentation|⁉}} with emoji variation selector
* {{unichar|26A0|WARNING SIGN |html=}} (exclamation mark in triangle)
* {{unichar|2755|WHITE EXCLAMATION MARK ORNAMENT|html=}} (in Unicode lingo, "white" means hollow)
* {{unichar|2757|HEAVY EXCLAMATION MARK SYMBOL|html=}}
* {{unichar|2762|HEAVY EXCLAMATION MARK ORNAMENT|html=}}
* {{unichar|2763|HEAVY HEART EXCLAMATION MARK ORNAMENT|html=}}
** {{Emoji presentation|❣}} with emoji variation selector
* {{unichar|2E53|MEDIEVAL EXCLAMATION MARK|html=}}
* {{unichar|A71D|MODIFIER LETTER RAISED EXCLAMATION MARK|html=}}
* {{unichar|A71E|MODIFIER LETTER RAISED INVERTED EXCLAMATION MARK|html=}}
* {{unichar|A71F|MODIFIER LETTER LOW INVERTED EXCLAMATION MARK|html=}}
* {{unichar|fe15|Presentation form for vertical exclamation mark}}
* {{unichar|FE57|SMALL EXCLAMATION MARK|html=}} (for special applications within [[CJK characters|CJK]] text)
* {{unichar|FF01|FULLWIDTH EXCLAMATION MARK|html=}} (for special applications within [[CJK characters|CJK]] text)
* {{unichar|E0021|TAG EXCLAMATION MARK|html=}}

Some [[emoji]]s include an exclamation mark:
* {{unichar|1f199|squared up with exclamation mark}}
* {{unichar|1f51b|on with exclamation mark with left right arrow above}}

Some scripts have their own exclamation mark:

* {{unichar|055C|ARMENIAN EXCLAMATION MARK|nlink=Armenian alphabet}}
* {{unichar|07F9|NKO EXCLAMATION MARK|nlink=N'Ko script}}
* {{unichar|109F|MYANMAR SYMBOL SHAN EXCLAMATION|nlink=Burmese script|use=lang|use2=my}}
* {{unichar|1944|LIMBU EXCLAMATION MARK|nlink=Limbu script}}
* {{unichar|aa77|Myanmar symbol aiton exclamation|use=lang|use2=my}}
* {{unichar|1e95e|Adlam initial exclamation mark|nlink=Adlam alphabet|use=lang|use2=ff}}

==See also==
* [[Period (punctuation)|Period]]
* [[Inverted question and exclamation marks]]
* [[Punctuation]]
* [[Terminal punctuation]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last=Hazrat |first=Florence |date=2022 |title=An admirable point : a brief history of the exclamation mark! |location=London |publisher=Profile Books |page= |isbn=978-1800811973}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Exclamation marks}}
* [http://www.decodeunicode.org/u+0021 U+0021 exclamation point] &mdash; Decode Unicode

{{navbox punctuation|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Punctuation]]