Settle an argument please

[islasmum]

I say that when you reach the end of a sentence with an exclamation mark, you do not have to put a full stop as well - the other half says that you should do so. What do other AB's think?

[EvianBaby]

No, you don't need a full stop if you have used an exclamation mark.

It would look stupid if you did!.

[EvianBaby]

(I have a terrible fear that I'm about to get told I'm wrong).

[anneasquith]

! no full stop for me.

[NOX]

No as Evian says the exclamation mark only.

[Zhukov]

no full stop needed

[jackthehat]

The exclamation mark includes a fullstop!

[Misky]

Absolutely no full stop with an exclamation mark.

[RATTER15]

Nope, I wouldnt, but what do I know of such things with my dreadful punctuation and grammar!.

[jno]

the little dot under the exclamation mark is a full stop! Same for question marks?

[danchip]

i always took it that the exclamation mark had a full stop as part of it at the bottom!

[horseshoes]

Definitely no full stop. Just as JTH says the exclamation mark already contains one!

[888sally888]

Def no full stop

[Zhukov]

you can get into trouble for misplaced apostrophes on here though ;-)

[NOX]

Give MarkRae his address and he'll send round the punctuation heavies to give him a lesson so he doesn't forget it;-)

[Zhukov]

..or should I say..Superfluous apostrophes ;-)

[anneasquith]

i have been reprimanded for overuse of the exclamation mark !!

[islasmum]

Me too Anne!! Thanks people, I'm £1 up now!

[beso]

Exclamation marks are the most overused of all punctuation marks. I find them especially annoying in computer programs where the designers think every communcation with the user should be exclaimed.

I rarely use them. A well written sentence exclaims itself without the added mark.

[Old_Geezer]

Never heard of using both. Never done so myself, was never told to at school. Is your other half from the UK ? just wondered if they did things differently elsewhere.

[gen2]

Are you being funny Beso?

In many computer languages, comments are preceded by an exclamation mark to tell the compiler/interpreter that it is to be ignored.