I write and edit for a living, so of course I pick up on these things. I do understand that living language doesn't always follow the Chicago Manual of Style. It's just that sometimes I wish it did.

I have never heard this one before, especially for online communications. I do use lots of exclamation points amongst other offending characters. I will keep it in mind.

I just want to remind everyone that English is not my first language, so I ask for a bit of tolerance, if possible.

Oh my goodness, Zap. Your English is perfect! I am constantly astounded at how well the people who have English as a second and third language express themselves. Inge, Astrid and Ornella come to mind. AMAZING.

Thanks for your thoughts, Katiepea. I feel very exuberant you through your writing and that's powerful. I wouldn't have it any other way.

This is a fashion and style forum and not a grammar and language forum. Please do not feel bad about how you express yourself and do not stop using exclamation marks if that is your writing style. As long as your comments are respectful, that is all that counts.

Well put, Mo, about how disliking the look of crocs with socks is not the same as disliking someone's feet, or disliking socks, or even disliking crocs. And Angie is right that everyone can express themselves however they wish on this forum as long as the comments are respectful.

I've never forgotten my third-grade teacher's admonishment that an exclamation mark was the written equivalent of a friendly jab on the shoulder, used sparingly to add emphasis to a statement. In this forum, when I see "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", I try to assume that those jabs are dainty, lady-like feints, so my (metaphorical) arm doesn't get too sore.

This post is cracking me up because no one uses more exclamation points than my husband! Though not in his professional correspondence thank goodness.

I don't think I will tell him that using multiple exclamation points is girly and feminine because I find it endearing and don't want him to stop.

Preaching to the choir, my dear.

But I try to ignore it. Lack of understanding of the finer points of style (writing style, that is) is common, and does not always indicate a lack of general intelligence. And although I do tend to value intelligence, it's not the only thing I value. People have many qualities to offer. So although the grammar stickler part of my brain might be screaming STOP THE EXCLAMATION POINT ABUSE, the nicer part is quietly reminding it to give the writer the benefit of the doubt.

On the whole, in fact, I feel the writing quality on this forum is quite high. The odd time I've scrolled through other comments on the internet (like, say, in the comments section of a YouTube video), my grammar stickler brain centre has apoplectic fits. Clearly not everybody learns to write properly in school.

Edited- not important at all.

He he, Zap, one could argue my whole post was not important at all!

By the way, you have wonderful command of the English language.

Merci.
(Oh, wait, that's French).

I think I know what you mean about being taken the wrong way, Mo. I don't have a problem with exclamationosis but I rarely use abbreviations (like I always write Hahahaha instead of LOL beacuse I feel like LOL spells "loll" and what I want to convey is laughter which sounds like "Hahahaha"), or make faces with punctuation, because I actually find them hard to understand a lot of the time and I don't want to put the wrong face into a post or email.
BUT it doesn't bother me at all when others use LOL or IMO or put a little face on their email. I just don't do it personally.
I like to hear other people's pet peeves. Keep 'em coming.

I've been more conscious of this since reading this thread and I think I've figured out for myself why the ! is important in online communications like this.

It can be so hard to discern tone in a quick post or email. I write on message boards, personal emails and text in the same way I speak, rather than in the way I speak if I'm presenting to a group of professionals. I want my conversational voice to come through here in the same way it would if I were chatting in real life with girlfriends. When I have casual conversation in person, I use my hands alot (I wonder if my use of the non-word "alot" will be cringeworthy for some!) and my face is very expressive. I guess maybe I'm just accustomed to having a little something more than just words to make my point.

I hear the excitement in my words in my head and I add that excitement with punctuation. I think the rules of official written language and the rules of casual written language are different, just like we hear a difference between official spoken language and off the cuff speaking. I actually LIKE that there is a discernible difference in the two types of communication so that I can tell what sort of discussion I'm involved in.

I've really appreciated and enjoyed reading everyone's response to this thread. Again, it's a personal little quirk of mine, and I would never expect anyone to censor themselves on my account. Just brought it up - and maybe those who might not even be aware that they were 'exclaiming' facts on their post titles might see how it could come across to the average reader (look at me!!). Again, I completely get using these to show emotion in responses. My point was never about that. And so I will leave it. Happy posting all!

As a Reading/English teacher, I completely understand! It's one of my pet peeves too! (OK, I'll stop). But the worst is when people start sentences with prepositions. Or they don't write a complete sentence. Or they can't spel.

ALL CAPS. THAT ONE REALLY BUGS ME. And texting language, don't get me started, LOL.

In all seriousness, I really do have a lot of pet peeves when it comes to language. On forms like this I try not to let it bother me (except for spelling), as it's all in good fun and more like a conversation. I have been guilty of more than my share of ! and anyway. So as long as we all check our spelling, I'll be happy!! (Oops.)