The Interrobang, and Other Punctuation Headaches for Proofreaders
Proofreaders are trained to polish a manuscript until it shines. They know their grammar, spot spelling errors a mile off, and won’t tolerate inconsistencies. But they also walk a fine line between correcting too much and respecting the author’s style. While grammar rules are easy to apply, every proofread comes with unique challenges—ones that call for common sense, tact, and the courage to draw a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
Punctuation is one of those grey areas that can frustrate even seasoned proofreaders. And I’m not talking about the obvious—missing question marks or full stops. In your freelance proofreading career, you’ll almost certainly come across authors who love to add extra punch with a flurry of punctuation marks at the end of a sentence.
Mark Twain once said, “One should never use exclamation points in writing. It is like laughing at your own joke.” Terry Pratchett went further. In Reaper Man, he wrote: “Five exclamation marks, the sure sign of an insane mind.” By his own admission, he sorted fan mail in this order:
- From kids
- Typed
- Readable
- Interesting
- Others
- Ones written in green ink on mauve paper
- Ones with more exclamation marks than sanity dictates.
So, what would Twain or Pratchett have thought of the interrobang?
What Is an Interrobang?!
The interrobang is a combination of a question mark and an exclamation mark—?!, !?, ?!?, !?!—or even this: ‽. Though often seen as a modern quirk, it actually dates back to 1962, when journalist Martin K. Speckter introduced it as a neater alternative to multiple end-of-sentence punctuation marks. While it never caught on formally, the rise of social media has breathed new life into its use.
Fans of the interrobang say it adds “nuance and clarity,” especially for rhetorical questions. Pearson, the education company, even uses it as a logo to reflect “the curiosity to know and discover, and the excitement and fun of learning.”
To Bang or Not to Bang
Others—grammar nerds like me—aren’t so keen. For some, the interrobang is a sign of lazy writing. If the sentence is strong enough, they argue, the punctuation shouldn’t have to shout.