It is unnecessary to add multiple exclamation marks (!!!!) or question marks (????) at the end of sentences. Daniel Scocco at Daily Writing Tips has written an article called ‘Punctuation Errors: Multiple Punctuation Marks’ and makes a very good point that we should trust the emphasis of the punctuation mark and not increase the number of them that we use. He says that “in reality it just makes your text ugly and informal” which I agree makes sense.
Wikipedia echoes this point when talking about exclamation marks and explains that using more than one at the end of a sentence is “generally considered unacceptable in formal prose”.
Here are some examples:
Incorrect
- How many times have I told you to get down from that ladder??? Get down now!!!!!
- What a fantastic morning!! Do you want to go for a walk??
Correct
- How many times have I told you to get down from that ladder? Get down now!
- What a fantastic morning! Do you want to go for a walk?
My thoughts: I would have thought it’s quite common to use multiple question marks and exclamation marks when trying to make a point about something or when trying to sound more excited. I can admit to using them in text messages and possibly in emails to other work colleagues; however, I will probably think twice in future before using them in a more formal/professional pieces of work. I wouldn’t want to look amateurish!
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Until tomorrow…
Sandra
My writing challenge: http://wp.me/p1x6Ui-4
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Twitter: @madeirasandra and @tipsandluxuries
Reference list:
Daily Writing Tips website: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/punctuation-errors-multiple-punctuation-marks/
Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclamation_mark
My Writing Notebook 
Hi Sandra – just read about your blog in Writing Magazine. One post per day is amazing – two a week is the most I can manage!
By the way, I agree multiple question & exclamtion marks can look amateurish and are best saved for personal emails & tests.
Posted by Sally Jenkins | October 5, 2011, 12:16 pm