What does (!) mean? Anything?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I know someone who frequently puts an exclamation point inside of parenthesis in emails, apparently to indicate an emotion something like “oh gosh!” or “eek” or “wow.” I can’t say for sure, since it’s not a standard form of communication. For this reason, mainly, it bugs the crap out of me. I wish she would just clearly state whatever it is she wants to say, without the cutsieness. Or whatever it is.

I might add, if it makes any difference, that she’s a highly placed executive. She does this in widely distributed emails.

I looked at Urban Dictionary to see if there is anything naughty meant by this arrangement, like an emoticon or other texting shorthand. The only thing I find that seems credible is that it might mean sarcasm. I was afraid I’d find that it means asshole or something worse, but the entries suggesting this got poor ratings. (I’m not sure if this is reliable or not; I’m not in the habit of consulting Urban Dictionary as an actual reference work.)

Anyway, anyone know if there is any agreed-upon meaning accompanying this: (!)

2

It means the same thing as an exclamation point at the end of a sentence, except that it’s pointed to the specific word or phrase that it follows rather than the whole thing–for example, if you’re listing several remarkable things, and want to indicate particular astonishment or outrage for one of them. Used properly (which includes sparingly), I think it’s very expressive, very useful.

It predates computers, texting, emoticons.

3

I’ve mostly seen it used (and maybe used it myself) to indicate shock or excitement for something mid-sentence.

For example: “The conversation turned to knitting, oral sex(!) and the Golden Girls once grandma arrived.”

4

I’ve used it from time to time just as an alternative to “No, really.” or “I am not making this up” as Dave Barry would say.

Example: So she took her 400 pound, twelve year old (!) and told him sternly, “You need to put on a diet!”

I don’t use it very often, though. The fact that she’s using it in most of her emails seems odd and overused.

5

I’m unaware of any emoticon meanings attached to that string of text.

You might just e-mail and ask her. Her e-mail client might make that string of text into somesort of smilie that doesn’t get interpreted by your e-mail client, but shows up simply as text.

6

My experience (and usage) coincides with Happy Lendervedder’s.

7

Me too. It means “holy shit, think about that part right there.” The sentence isn’t over, but that is the part of the sentence the writer wants to be emphatic about. It’s arguably the same as italics for emphasis or something like that, but it’s more effective at interrupting the flow of the sentence.

After I asked him to stop peeing on me for the third (!) time, I gave up and called a cab.

8

If you read the Chicago manual of style, that’s one of the methods prescribed to bring attention to something that you as the author personally find objectionable in what you’re quoting. So, I could have used it when writing about Conn Smythe, when he said he concieved Maple Leaf Gardens as “a place that people [!] would feel proud to take wives and girlfriends to.” Or put the [!] after ‘girlfriends’, I don’t know.

IIRC, though, [sic] was deemed perferable to [!] or (!), in part because it is less of a derisive sneer, and more of an editorial, “Just thought you should notice…” Your results may vary, though!

9

It’s not an emoticon. It’s a “no, seriously!” that doesn’t break up the sentence as much as “(No, seriously!)”.

10

What spark240 said.

11

I have also seen the text ( ! ) to refer to a butt, or “I’m mooning you.” I’m pretty sure that the executive doesn’t mean it that way though!

12

(|) Is typically how I draw a emotibutt. But I can see the appeal of the little hole on an exclamation mark. :stuck_out_tongue:

13

It can be used in chess notation to denote a particularly brilliant move.

Somehow I doubt that was its usage in this case.

14

! has come to mean an expression of surprise all by itself. Its meaning is normally conveyed in face-to-face communication by body language: raising your eyebrows, widening your eyes, and perhaps making a sound of surprise. Obviously none of that can come through text, so ! is a short and simple replacement.

I’m guessing here, but I think the use started becoming widespread when Metal Gear Solid became popular.

The parentheses are used just as parentheses always are in sentences: to add an aside that doesn’t necessarily have a bearing on the sentence itself.

15

You got it in the OP. It means “wow” or “that’s surprising to me”, such as “Costs rose by 6%, revenue rose by 13% (!), and our overseas production fell 3%.”

It’s a way of calling attention to a particularly astonishing or exciting fact in an otherwise drab sentence.

Commonly written “Nxc3!” and read “Knight takes c-three, exlam”.

16

Yes, I use it sometimes to mean (can you believe that bit right there?!).

17

FWIW, I’ve seen (!) in subtitles of BBC productions. It is used to indicate a character is speaking sarcastically and is placed at the end of the sarcastic line of dialog.

18

Also, ? is a weird move, ?? is a batshit stupid move, and then I’ve also seen !? and ?!. I’m unclear what the convention between the two is…

19

I have used these in the long Corporate Reports I am asked to forward to my colleagues. They know that these are added by me to show the parts I think are particularly notable. Since the majority of the text barely pertains to us, this allows them to skim through quickly and glean the parts I need them to act upon or be ready to discuss.

20

Wouldn’t (!) be more of an inverted moon? I would think that (i) would look a bit more conventional. FWIW, I’ve never seen either used as a moon - but I’m going to work it into my future correspondence as much as possible!