Prompt Cast
The Evolution and Importance of the Exclamation Point in Written Communication
TLDR The exclamation point, originally known as the "point of admiration," has evolved over time to become a sincerity marker in written communication. It is now necessary in electronic communication to convey sincerity and prevent misinterpretation, with research showing that women and young people of color use them more frequently.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The exclamation point was introduced in English as the "point of admiration" in the 14th century and its origin is believed to be from the Latin exclamation of joy.
02:10
The exclamation point used to be used less frequently and was not even included as a key on typewriters until around 1970.
04:26
Back in the day, exclamation points were called "bangs" and were typed with more effort and intention than they are today.
06:55
Exclamation points are now everywhere in written communication and are seen as a sincerity marker rather than an intensity marker.
09:20
Exclamation points are now necessary in electronic communication to convey sincerity and prevent misinterpretation, with research showing that women and young people of color use them more frequently.
11:42
Starting in the early 2000s, younger women began using exclamation points frequently in electronic communication, which eventually spilled over into the rest of culture, serving as a way to convey sincerity and meaning in shorter bursts of communication.
14:02
Exclamation points are often used sparingly in electronic communication to ensure that they convey sincerity and meaning when used, and the use of all caps can be seen as yelling or anger.
Categories:
Society & Culture
