Comments on: Is Your Website Copy Too Excited?

By: Tweets that mention Exclamation Points: Don't Use Them! | Men With Pens -- Topsy.com

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:31:18 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by kavita k and Rita Ashley. Rita Ashley said: James Chartrand @menwithpens Explains why good writers don't use exclamation points. That means executives, too. http://bit.ly/bTKC2O [...]

By: Rita Ashley

Rita Ashley — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:55:56 +0000

Finally, something to substantiate my advice to clients to avoid exclamation points in any professional communication. You have no idea the arguments I hear, not one defensible.

I tell them it is akin to a girl or woman giggling at the end of an important statement to defuse the impression that she knows what she is talking about and is somehow, less feminine.

It is also true, women use that pesky punctuation more than men. I believe it is because they think they will not otherwise be believed. To this grammar nazi, it is a clue to lack of self esteem.

Thank you for this post which I will spread around, keep in the hot links vault and quote.

By: Carol Badaracco Padgett

Carol Badaracco Padgett — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:05:38 +0000

Thank you. That’s all I can say.

By: Michelle Godin

Michelle Godin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:38:41 +0000

This is brilliant.

It’s true, they’re gaudy and invasive. I loved your argument about how they degrade the point, it’s absolutely true. It’s frustrating to work with people who insist on using them, (and of course, over-using them), when the point of offer is actually legit.

I just referred to this site on my blog,

slantspinrepeat.blogspot.com

Anyone’s welcome to check it out.

Very well done, guys.

Michelle

By: Kathleen K. O'Connor

Kathleen K. O'Connor — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:52:04 +0000

Thank you for this important reminder. Sometimes, I make the mistake of trying to add emphasis with exclamation marks, but it really does look silly. The words themselves need to convey the emotions. I also notice how in online interactions, people use lots of exclamation marks. I suppose that is more acceptable since people are probably doing it so as not to sound curt.

By: Must-reads: November 26th, 2009 | The TopCopy

Must-reads: November 26th, 2009 | The TopCopy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:37:26 +0000

[...] Is your website copy too excited? – Exclamation marks are bad!! Really bad!! Men With Pens explain why. [...]

By: Eric | Eden Journal

Eric | Eden Journal — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:31:10 +0000

I have been using exlamation points sparingly, but now I am certainly reconsidering using them at all.
Eric | Eden Journal´s last blog ..Mish Mash Free for All – November 2009 Edition

By: How to use exclamation points effectively (!) « Rebecca Kellogg, Copywriter

How to use exclamation points effectively (!) « Rebecca Kellogg, Copywriter — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:36:47 +0000

[...] more on the subject of exclamation points, enjoy this blog post from Men with Pens. Share and [...]

By: James Chartrand - Men with Pens

James Chartrand - Men with Pens — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:17:14 +0000

@ Breakfast – Ahh, Carole, you didn’t read my post on Keyword Commenting, did you… please don’t do that because I hate to call you ‘Breakfast’ as a name.
James Chartrand – Men with Pens´s last blog ..Are You Afraid of Success? We Bet Yes.

By: parisbreakfasts

parisbreakfasts — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:26:10 +0000

Well I just removed at least 6-7 exclaimation points from today’s post (one was in a quote too).
I have some heavy lifting or rather deleting to do on my blog