interrobang...should we bring them back?

[joko]

i have just discovered these on QI... it is a symbol that is a cross between a ! and ? - sort of on top of each other.

apparently it was popular in the 60s and was even added to typewriters...and is basically used in the same way as when we choose to use !? at the same time.

show we bring this back? i think it would be great... not really necessary but i think itd be nice.

thanks

[annadomino]

what‽

[Buenchico]

For anyone who is confused:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrobang

I'd rather adopt the Spanish convention of using inverted punctuation marks at the start of sentences to indicate what follows.
¡ It a good idea !
¿ Don't you agree ?

[Buenchico]

It would help, of course, if I could remember normal apostrophes!
('It's', not 'it')
;-)

[Maydup]

Took me a while to get to grips with this post but got it now. Yes bring back the interrobang I think they're fab.

[Buenchico]

Can't we change the name though?
I want to call it an 'exclamoquery'!

[joko]

thats not the same at all though chris, it doesnt change anything by adding it....as thats just like ending with ?? or !!..

the interrobang is one of each...

[Quizmonster]

There are many situations in which this combined question mark/exclamation mark would be very useful. Scriptwriters, for example, might make constant use of if for people's outraged querying of things...ie where they are presenting very loud questions.
Technically, however, rhetorical questions which are presented emotionally or vehemently need only an exclamation mark at the end and not a question mark as well. For example: "How can people do such things!"

"Sometimes, especially in popular writing, the two are combined for emphasis." ('The two' refers to joint question marks/exclamation marks...?! or !?)

The above quote is from Fowler's 'Modern English Usage' - one of the ‘bibles' of usage - so it would clearly be wrong to say one should never use these marks together. However, I would still advise restraint in using any such piece of punctuation. Note the words 'sometimes' and 'popular' in the above quote. They suggest that - even if you are writing for 'The Sun' - such a thing should be a rarity!
Personally, I would never use it. Even the exclamation mark alone is - according to The Times style-guide - "almost always unnecessary".

[emmie]

Until i watched QI i hadn't heard it, not sure it would make a difference either way.

[emmie]

sorry typo, "heard of it",

[jno]

I don't think I want to have to relearn typing just to accommodate a new punctuation mark, when !? already does the job okay.

[AB Editor]

ALT+8253 in Word. Sadly not accounted for on AB!

[ChuckFickens]

Nope, apparently I can't type one :)

[jno]

just do a !? and fold the screen a bit, Chuck

[ChuckFickens]

LOL....

there was about two lines of Unicode characters in my last post but it seems that AB doesn't display them.

[Quizmonster]

Even easier, J, just NOT to use the two marks together at all, as advised by the 'bibles'.

[jno]

Quizmonster, as I recall, !? is actually standard in the recording of chess matches to indicate a brilliant move that might have hidden flaws.

[Quizmonster]

Not a problem, J. Maybe best to use it only there, then? If there is a specific, recognised 'technical' usage of anything such as the one you've pointed out, that is perfectly fine. What I was trying to convey is that - unlike every single one of the other punctuation devices - there is never a NECESSITY to use interrobang/!?/?!

[NiceCupOfTea]

I'm sure this was discussed in 'Eats, shoots and leaves'. Totally agree, though, that we need it to be returned. Whatever it ends up being called. 'Exclamoquery' does have a certain ring to it, methinks. Interrobang just sounds ... porno-ish or like really bad sci-fi. I can see children sniggering when the teacher mentions it.