Definition:
Two or more exclamation points (!!!) following a word or sentence.
See also:
Examples and Observations:
- "There's a pin sticking through my thorax. I see it all now.
"I AM THE BLIND DATE!
"ME!!
"I'M the one they're being nice to!"
(Jean Shepherd, "The Endless Streetcar Ride Into the Night, and the Tinfoil Noose." In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, Doubleday, 1966) - "[E]xclamation marks should not be used to indicate emphasis, irony, or humor. In addition, you should avoid using multiple exclamation marks in a row at the end of a sentence."
(G. Loberger and K. Shoup, Webster's New World English Grammar Handbook, 2nd ed. Wiley, 2009) - "Many of you, our friends and family, are probably taken aback by this, our annual holiday newsletter. You've read of our recent tragedy in the newspapers and were no doubt thinking that, what with all of their sudden legal woes and 'hassles,' the Dunbar clan might just stick their heads in the sand and avoid this upcoming holiday season altogether!!
"You're saying, 'There's no way the Dunbar family can grieve their terrible loss and carry on the traditions of the season. No family is that strong,' you're thinking to yourselves.
"Well, think again!!!!!!!!!!"
(David Sedaris, "Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!!" Holidays on Ice, 2nd ed., Little, Brown and Co., 2008) - "And all those exclamation marks, you notice? Five? A sure sign of someone who wears his underpants on his head."
(Terry Pratchett, Maskerade) - "There is surely a point after which exclamation marks no longer express friendliness. In this post-literal time, exclamation marks become signs of sarcasm as witty correspondents rebel against their overuse. Hence: 'I loved your last email! OMG did I LOVE it!!!!!!' The point is they didn't. They were being IRONIC."
(Stuart Jeffries, "The Joy of Exclamation Marks!" The Guardian, Apr. 29, 2009)
Also Known As: multiple exclamation marks
