The literal meaning of the term exclamation signifies expressing feelings in a definitive and strong manner, a feeling of extreme happiness or sadness is expressed in written form using an exclamation mark (!). Exclamation mark, in American English is also known as exclamation point, is generally used after an interjection to display strong emotions. This is a punctuation mark to signify or emphasize something important with a stronger tonality at the end of a sentence. However, sometimes it is used in warning signs to denote danger as a bare exclamation mark.

There are varied uses of exclamation mark in different domains and subjects. Factorial operations in Mathematics is denoted using an exclamation mark, logical negation in computer programming languages are expressed using exclamation mark. The term “!C” denotes “negation of C”. Different languages use “!” to denote click consonants. Exclamation marks graphically are used in representing a full stop having a vertical line. The exclamation mark is said to be originated from the Latin expression signifying joy. The inclusion of exclamation mark was introduced during 15th century to express “admiration sign”. The sentences ending with an exclamation mark generally denotes admiration or to display dramatic effect in any sentence.

The exclamation mark is used differently in various languages. The exclamation mark in French, is generally used to express astonishment but sometimes it is also used to make requests and orders. Germans use exclamations for various things that are portrayed in the English language using different punctuation marks. Salutation line can also be expressed using exclamation marks, for example “Lieber Jack!” which translates in English as “ Dear Jack”.

Cantonese language has not used exclamation marks, though it is a common practice to use exclamations in written Mandarin, although Hong Kong and Canton regions refused to use because they thought it was an unnecessary and confusing connotation mark from the Western Culture. The Latin scripts introduced exclamation mark in Modern Greek, which is used just like in English language. Subsequently, Hungarian use the exclamation mark in prohibitive and imperative sentences to express a wish or desire and it is also used to denote a person. Spanish language has improvised the use of exclamation marks where a sentence ending with an exclamation mark should also begin with an inverted exclamation mark. Turkish language uses exclamations to denote command and also the address of these command lines.

There is an informal non-standard punctuation mark with the intention of combining the usage of question mark with exclamation mark which is known as interrobang, which basically looks like both are superimposed with one another, though it is mostly used in Unicode documentation.

The exclamation mark is not included with words in the English dictionary, it is used in brand names, television shows to display a strong emotional sensation associated with the title or name of a place or thing. Precautions are also denoted using exclamation marks or to display sudden outburst of emotion in written form. The presence of this specific punctuation mark is a decorative form of expression in English and other languages in the world.