?! or !?

sash1

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2001
8,896
1
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curious, is it !? or is it ?!

When you use a question mark and an exclamation mark at the same time in a sentence, which is it?

I think it's supposed to be !?, but I'm just checking. I don't want to misuse it.

Thanks,

`K
 

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
I don't think double punctuation is gramaticly correct period. Either is just as gramaticaly incorrect.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
36
91
I was unaware that either of the two was anything other than a colloquialism.

ZV
 

Aves

Lifer
Feb 7, 2001
12,232
30
101
I'm sure ZV is right but ?! still seems better if you're going to use either.
 

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
1
81
WHAT!?

I don't really think either is right, but I would put the one first which is more important to the meaning. Does it mean more to ask the question or be shocked?!?!?!?!?!?!?111
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
81
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I was unaware that either of the two was anything other than a colloquialism.

ZV

I believe you are right, but on the other hand, "?!" does have a valid use, because it has a distinct meaning that is legitimately used in written conversation.
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
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?! doesn't make much sense to me, because it would seem you were ending an exclamatory sentence. !? is I believe the "correct" way, and it makes the most sense, imo.
 

atom

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 1999
4,722
0
0
I would say "?!", to me it makes sense to put the question mark first to denote a question then the exclamation mark to show emphasis.
 

ohtwell

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
14,516
9
81
I don't think it's grammatically correct to use either. I don't usually use it, but on the rare occasiona I do, I put "!?". I put that because I like the way it looks, not because I think it's any more grammatically correct than the other.


: ) Amanda
 

Ness

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2002
5,407
2
0
My vote is neither. It is grammatically incorrect to use both because it is avoidable.

WHAT?! or WHAT!? could be '"What?" she screamed.' or simply "WHAT?" puts emphasis on the extremety of it, although I do believe having all caps words is also gramatically incorrect.


If I had any initiative, I'd look it up in one of those stupid english handbooks I've had to buy for each and every english class.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
?! makes more sense to me, since the main point of the sentence is a question, and the ! is merely accentuating it.
'"What?" she screamed
Too many words!
All caps feels like internet lingo to me.

If the ?! or !? isn't right well damn I'll use either one, and what's anyone gonna do about it?!!!!!???!!!!!!!!!
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
It depends on which point is more important, "?", or "!".
 

Ness

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2002
5,407
2
0
Originally posted by: Skoorb
?! makes more sense to me, since the main point of the sentence is a question, and the ! is merely accentuating it.
'"What?" she screamed
Too many words!
All caps feels like internet lingo to me.

If the ?! or !? isn't right well damn I'll use either one, and what's anyone gonna do about it?!!!!!???!!!!!!!!!

'"Do you really want to know what I'll do about it?", I interjected.'