EXCLAMATION MARK !
Like the full stop, exclamation marks are used to end a sentence. However, they are only used where there is an expression of strong feeling or an interjection:
- Good grief! No one has done the washing up yet!
- Look out below!
- It’s a touchdown!
- Hey, you! Get off the grass!
QUESTION MARK ?
Like the other end-of-sentence marks, the question mark (sometimes called an interrogation point or a query) is used to finish a statement – but only to end a question (technically called an interrogative sentence). It should only be used for direct questions:
- Where have all the flowers gone?
- She asked, “Can I go shopping?”
- Is this all there is?
- Who amongst you is without sin?
But do not use them for indirect questions:
- I wonder who will be the next Reserve Bank governor. [No answer required.]
- She asked if she could go shopping.
- He asked if he could borrow my lawnmower.
Back to top …Note: there should be no space left before any punctuation mark except for the en-dash and ellipsis (and then only in some cases). Confusion arises because the French sometimes place a space before exclamation and question marks.