In a book I am currently reading, I noticed that the authors frequently punctuate their sentences with both a question mark and an exclamation point. For example: “Isn’t that interesting?!”
I got to wondering about this double punctuation, and how widespread its use might be, which led to the following questions:
Is this considered “proper” construction, or is it strictly informal?
If it is considered proper (or even if not, I suppose), are there any rules regarding whether the question mark or exclamation point comes first?
When did this usage become common? Were authors using it in the early 20th century? The 19th?
It’s considered a way to indicate an exclaimed question. A few years ago, someone invented a new punctuation mark, the interobang, to cover that situation, but it never caught on.
Question mark usually comes first.
As a style question, I’d say that any author who uses this more than a couple of times looks pretty foolish, SORT OF LIKE TYPING IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS TO MAKE YOUR POINT. I’d also say I wouldn’t trust any writer who didn’t follow the double marks with a quotation mark. In other words, there could be some limited instances when a character says something in the way that requires the “?!,” but the author doing so shows a lack of skill in getting the point across.
Just to cover all the bases, the “?!” is used in chess notations to indicate a doubtful move, but not without some merit. There also is “!?” an interesting move, but not the best.
I’m moderately sure “?!” was used at least in the 19th century. I think I’ve seen Thoreau use it in journal entries.
As a side note, I once knew someone who would end every single sentance with a period, even if that meant putting it after a question mark or exclamation point. Letters from him were always fun: “How are you?. I slipped on the ice yesterday and broke my arm!.” etc.
The interrobang just looks like a question mark (interrogation mark) superimposed on top of an exclamation point (bang), nothing fancy. I could tell you a thing or two about a personal experience with the interrobang, but it’d have to go in the Pit.
Go to a library and look it up in the Chicago Manual of Style. While that’s mainly for scholarly journals and such, it’s as good a reference on such things as any, and probably the most thorough. I’d give away the answer, but I forgot since the last time I happened to check. I think they advised against it in most cases.
There’s a couple of airgun magazines from Britain I read occasionally (Airgunner / Airgun World). They use the ‘?!’ (or maybe it’s the other way 'round) every now and then. They also have the peculiar habit of ending statements with exclamation points! And I don’t mean once and a while! Sometimes it’s difficult to find a statement that doesn’t use one! And even questions also, would you believe it! But they also start sentences with the word ‘but’, too! -which is supposed to be “acceptable” now, but still looks juvenile to me - MC
