Something the pendants on Gransnet will love!!!!

anyone read sir terry pratchett's book "maskerade"? this is his take on the phantom of the opera. there the ghost leaves messages for the theatre owner - notes littered with exclamation marks. the number is remarked upon in the book - can't remember exactly what was said.

however i tend to use several exclamation marks when posting on social media [and in emails too i suppose] - i use them to show emphasis as this is difficult to portray in text.

!

As in "WTF"!

I do use the exclamation mark in texts and e mails sometimes to make things clearer.

I also use smileys but that's another subject for debate.

Well, I for one am guilty of overusing the exclamation mark, particularly on social media, so perhaps that's what he means?

Eg: Michael Gove!!!! Sarah Vine!!!!!!!!WTAF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry that should, of course, have read this issue of marking children down for not using exclamation marks correctly.

Really don't know why I bother previewing messages if I don't read them properly!!! (too many or not enough?)

I litter my texts etc with !!!!!, so I'm doomed!!!!!!!

Falconbird GS was learning basic punctuation in year 1. Capital letter to start, comma and full stop.
I can't remember when I started learning grammar, I feel as if I've always known the rudiments. Perhaps I'm not always correct though ?
I use an exclamation mark quiet often in texts and posts as I think without being able to hear the tone of voice it makes it clearer.

I think the issue is around the overuse of exclamation marks in essays rather than whether the children should be using them at all. From the articles I have read the government seem to be saying that social media is making children use phrases such as OMG!!! I must say this surprises me, I don't know any 7/8 year olds who use social media. My grandson will ask his mum to text me or his friend's mum for him, but he doesn't use texting, or twitter etc, himself.

My other concern is this issue of marking children down for not using exclamation marks. If a child of 7/8 is not writing the way a teacher wants them to, then they need extra teaching. The present government seem very keen on marking children down, but not actually putting strategies in place to get them where they want them to be.

Ha ha!
But only if you want to be an English teacher.

Well then, I'm stuffed!!!

When advertising for an English teacher my old headteacher used to bring the applications to the head of English. When handing them over for the selection of an interview list he used to say, 'Of course these are the ones who could write accurately and spell.' The others he threw in the bin.

And 'master of none', to finish the saying.

There were a couple of academic bods talking about it and without saying too much they clearly thought it was rubbish!

I do think politicians get above themselves, thinking they know everything about everything, when in fact they tend to be Jacks of all trades.

Cobblers!

Elegran

When I was seven the teacher would be pleased with a nice piece of descriptive writing - probably punctuation free and lots of spelling mistakes.

I think I was about 9 before punctuation was introduced and at least eleven before I was using it properly.

Is he confusing exclamation marks and question marks? Perhaps his grammar education was not as good as it might have been.

Blasted predictive text!

Is a pendant anything to do with a hanging apostrophe?

As one who sometimes struggles with punctuation, this started my day with a smile.

anya I was waiting for that

ginny, anya

Something to hang a pendant on?

Correct use of punctuation is not pedantry where it matters. I think children should certainly be taught good usages of exclamation marks and shown bad examples, but I imagine seven year olds have more pressing educational concerns including being allowed to learn through play more. I include playing with exclamation marks in that hope.

So I'd certainly agree that this is more silly government interference. Would that they would bugger off with their pontifications and let teachers and kids get on with their lives!