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Grammar Guide 21 - The End of the Sentence

Myr

Entry posted by Myr in Grammar Guide

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We are going to do a really simple Grammar Guide this week.  We're going to talk about the end of the sentence.

There are three common ways to end a sentence.  A period. An exclamation point! A question mark?

willy wonka and the chocolate factory blueberry GIF

First up, the round dot at the end of your sentence is the period.  A period is used when the sentence states a fact or makes a command. Each sentence in this paragraph ends in a period.

Next up, the question mark: ❓

Sentences that ask a question or display doubt end in a question mark.

Example:  Scooby-Doo, where are you?

Zac Efron Animation GIF by SCOOB!

 

Last, but not least, the exclamation point! An exclamation point expresses strong feelings, yelling, or tells you something extraordinary has occurred.

Example: Jinkies!

velma GIF by Scooby-Doo

 

Important tips on exclamation points: Don't overuse them! They lose impact! Honest! People lose sight of them if they appear constantly!  Not everything is extraordinary!  And do not put more than one together!!!!! 

The only caveat to those tips is if you are simulating an annoying teenager's dialog habits.

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Aditus
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I really like the !? or the ?! , but they never survive the edits. Why?!  Oh, why!?

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Mrsgnomie
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According to my first story, the only way to end a sentence was with an exclamation point. Everyone was just so excited to be featured in a story! Why was everything so exciting?! I don’t know!

What a time to be alive!

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Mrsgnomie
3 hours ago, Aditus said:

I really like the !? or the ?! , but they never survive the edits. Why?!  Oh, why!?

I feel personally attacked.

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Carlos Hazday
Quote

The only caveat to those tips is if you are simulating an annoying teenager's dialog habits.

Been there, done that.

4 hours ago, Aditus said:

I really like the !? or the ?! , but they never survive the edits. Why?!  Oh, why!?

I've faced a similar issue when ending sentences with an ellipse. A certain author/editor hated them, removed them, and I had to sneak them back in when he wasn't looking...

Edited by Carlos Hazday
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Mrsgnomie

Mrsgnomie 66,303

Posted (edited)

3 hours ago, Aditus said:

What? Why?!

I don't know! It's just triggering, okay?! 

Edited by Mrsgnomie
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Myr
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1 hour ago, Mrsgnomie said:

I don't know! It's just triggering, okay?! 

velma GIF by Scooby-Doo

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Valkyrie
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12 hours ago, Aditus said:

I really like the !? or the ?! , but they never survive the edits. Why?!  Oh, why!?

:whistle: 

At least it's not why?????!!!!!! Oh, why????!!!!!  :P  

8 hours ago, Carlos Hazday said:

Been there, done that.

I've faced a similar issue when ending sentences with an ellipse. A certain author/editor hated them, removed them, and I had to sneak them back in when he wasn't looking...

Ellipses... are... like... exclamation... points....  They... are... easily... overused... unless... you're... William... Shatner..... :P (I'm not saying you overuse ellipses, but I've seen plenty of writers who do ;) ) 

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Mrsgnomie
7 minutes ago, Valkyrie said:

:whistle: 

Ellipses... are... like... exclamation... points....  They... are... easily... overused... unless... you're... William... Shatner..... :P (I'm not saying you overuse ellipses, but I've seen plenty of writers who do ;) ) 

I used to use a lot of ellipse. They have their place, don't get me wrong, but I've happily moved on from our close knit relationship.

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imogene_arant
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Lots of love/hate for interrobangs and ellipses in this thread but where my em dash people at?! I have an addiction to those suckers and if em dash abuse is wrong, I don’t wanna be right!

You’ll pry them — if you really must — from my cold, dead body!

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George Richard
5 hours ago, Mrsgnomie said:

ellipse

And also Carlos Hazday—

With all due respect to two of my favorite authors, I have to get out my somewhat cobwebbed editor’s pen—the singular is “ellipsis”. 
 

An ellipse is an oval shape with a specific mathematical definition. 

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Mrsgnomie
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5 minutes ago, George Richard said:

And also Carlos Hazday—

With all due respect to two of my favorite authors, I have to get out my somewhat cobwebbed editor’s pen—the singular is “ellipsis”. 
 

An ellipse is an oval shape with a specific mathematical definition. 

spacer.png

 

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Aditus
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2 hours ago, imogene_arant said:

where my em dash people at?

Here!

big bang amy GIF by Channel 9

I'm an em-dasher! When I'm allowed that is..

 

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Carlos Hazday
7 hours ago, George Richard said:

And also Carlos Hazday—

With all due respect to two of my favorite authors, I have to get out my somewhat cobwebbed editor’s pen—the singular is “ellipsis”. 
 

An ellipse is an oval shape with a specific mathematical definition. 

Thanks for the fix and the lesson...

It's time to brush off the cobwebs and offer your services. There's always a lack of editors around here.

 

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Myr
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28 minutes ago, Carlos Hazday said:

There's always a lack of editors around here.

Huh... never seems to be a lack of people pointing out what's wrong so far as I've seen...

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Carlos Hazday
Just now, Myr said:

Huh... never seems to be a lack of people pointing out what's wrong so far as I've seen...

Yeah, but we need consistency. One fix here and there ain't enough. :P

 

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