What's an interrobang‽
What's an interrobang‽
What do you mean what's an interrobang‽
How could you NOT know what an interrobang is‽ It's only the greatest form of punctuation to every be invented! It's only the greatest solution to the age old problem of expressing exclamation and interrogation at the same time! How on earth do you not know what it is‽ You should feel ashamed!
SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME ON YOU!
Oh, wait... am I being too harsh? Please don't close this web-window!
I apologize. I forget not everyone is as passionate about grammar as I am. Of course not everyone knows what the marvelous-awesome-incredible interrobang is, I mean spell-check doesn't even recognize it as a real word much less a punctuation...
Truth is, besides English majors, not many people know of the existence of the interrobang.
It's a sad truth, but it's a true truth.
Instead of yelling at you via the internet, I really should be trying to correct this gap in your knowledge. Education solves everything, right?
Right.
So, what is an interrobang?
As I said previously, an interrobang is a form of punctuation. ( And it's a very good one too.)
The interrobang is a combination between an exclamation point and a question mark.
It looks like this:
The interrobang is very useful for when you need to ask an exclamatory question or exclaim a questioning exclamation.
For example, your best friend tells you at the last minute that he/she/it is moving away to the other side of the world, you might say these words: "You're what"
Now you have many options as to how you can emphasize these words.
You can exclaim him/her/it and say "You're what!"
This shows very obviously that you are shocked... but perhaps you are also feeling skeptical about this new your friend has given you.
You can question him/her/it and say "You're what?"
This shows that you are doubting your friend is being truthful, that you cannot believe that what he/she/it has told you is true... but the problem with this is that it leaves out your feelings of shock.
So, how do you exhibit that you are both shocked and doubtful?
Well you could use both punctuations -- "You're what?!" or "You're what!?" --- but that's rather shoddy grammar and not very acceptable in formal writing... or good writing.... and how are you supposed to choose what to put first, the ! or the ?, it's really just very confusing.
All these issues are solved with the use of the interrobang!
"You're what‽" shows clearly that you are very amazed at the news of your friend's moving plans and that you can hardly believe what he/she/it is saying... and it's proper grammar too!
See, the interrobang is very useful. That's why it was invented Martin K. Specter in 1962. He saw the need for its existence and filled it like any good inventor would.
Unfortunately, the interrobang isn't a standard punctuation mark, so you won't find it on your keyboard. But there are ways to use it!
Your options:
Unicode: U+203D
Alt code: ALT+8253
Linux system: Compose key ! and ? in either order
Mac O X system: ⌘+⌥+T
HTML:
‽
Wingdings 2 on Microsoft word: the ` key, the ] key, the ^ key, or the _ key.
Copy and paste: ‽
There are also certain typefaces that include the interrobang.
And of course, whenever you're writing on paper (GASP! WHO DOES THAT‽) you can just write it out! Remember it looks like this: ‽
Now, I want to know your thoughts.
What do you think of the interrobang?
Do you like it as much as I do‽
I WANT TO KNOW.
Leave me a comment and spread the word of the interrobang!
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT A STANDARD PUNCTUATION AND THUS BENEFIT FROM ITS GRAMMAR FILLED GLORY!
Peace, Love, and Interrobang!
