Brenda W.

asked • 12/10/15

english summary

which sentence should be punctuated with a exclamation point? a)I enjoy reading graphic novels b) What is the names of the planet c) Look out behind you d) I wonder why he did that

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Nicholas S. answered • 12/10/15

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In this question, the correct would be A) I enjoy reading graphic novels. This is because it is a statement of certainty and excitement/enjoyment
 
This is because option B) uses a question phrase 'What is/are' and so it is probably a question. Because it is a question, the only correct ending punctuation would be a question mark (?)
 
Option C) is also incorrect because although it is a statement, the phrase 'I wonder' indicates that the speaker is unsure or not confident, so they probably would not use an exclamation point. Note: Option C) could also be a question, depending on context.
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Ed M.

I must disagree with Nicholas S in that I believe sentence c) would be the most likely of the choices to have an exclamation point (or an "exclamation mark") as its end punctuation for the reason that I envision the most probable context for such a statement as one of urgency and warning, and in the spoken language such statements are usually expressed with a louder than normal voice and a higher pitch, which is customarily indicated in writing with an exclamation point, e.g., Look out behind you!
 
I agree with Nicholas S.'s characterization of a) as "a statement of certainty" but I really don't think it's also one of "excitement," in which case it would, it's true, probably be spoken with a higher tone of voice and thereby call for an exclamation point in writing. Instead, I really believe I enjoy reading graphic novels by itself is most likely to be used as a simple expression of a particular enjoyable personal activity, and thus though it involves emotion ("enjoy") it doesn't necessarily also convey excitement, and therefore I think just a period (a.k.a. a "full stop") is all that is required as its end punctuation.
 
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12/11/15

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