Using Exclamation Marks

The below extract is taken from PETAA bestseller, A New Grammar Companion, 2nd Edition, written by Beverly Derewianka.

We use exclamations to express surprise or make an emphatic statement. In structuring exclamations in the written mode, we can just use a statement followed by an exclamation mark.

He's so generous!

We had a great time!

Sometimes we use an expression such as How + adjective! or What + noun group!.

How strange!

What idiots!

Students can explore different ways of using emphasis in their oral and written language - particularly in dramatic presentations, stories and poems, including how it can be used for sarcasm and irony.