Something has bothered me for a long time.
I’m sure it doesn’t bug anyone but word nerds, but, since you’re reading this blog, I’m assuming that you question it as well.
Do you use other punctuation when you use an emoticon?
For example:
I love it when it rains! 😉
or
I love it when it rains 😉
It seems strange to use three different punctuation symbols, especially when they aren’t converted to little faces like they are above.
The easy answer is to avoid using emoticons. And, of course, I do in formal communication. (You can read IDK = I Doubt You’ll Get a (Positive) Response for my views of emoticons in professional communication).
But there are times (for example, text messages or Twitter posts) when I find myself wanting to use an emoticon to ensure that my post isn’t misinterpreted. Being a word nerd, I also want to make sure to use proper punctuation, but I don’t know what to do! 🙁
I even checked my favorite online grammar source, Grammar Girl, but came up mostly empty (I found a post on using noses for your emoticons. Perhaps it was a “slow news day”?)
Let’s Talk Nerdy!
What do you think? Is other punctuation needed when using emoticons? If so, where should it be placed?
ebrenner says
Maybe I’m being too rigid because I use emoticons only in informal situations (personal email, status updates, etc.), but I do use sentence-ending punctuation and then emoticons, even those that are solely punctuation. I put a space between the sentence and the emoticon, as if the emoticon were a new sentence. I’m not sure what to do when the emoticon comes just before a close parenthesis (my smiley face would have a double chin!), so I try to write around that problem. 🙂
profkrg says
@ebrenner Fat emoticons are a whole new issue! That is absolutely unacceptable. I would write around it too.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Kenna
profkrg says
@dbvickery I’m thinking punctuation, space, emoticon. What do you think?
dbvickery says
@profkrg I’ve done it both ways. punctuation, space, emoticon….or word, space, emoticon, space, punctuation.
samanthaswade says
@SteveCassady @profkrg Great topic of discussion, one I would like to find more articles discussing…
samanthaswade says
@SteveCassady @profkrg Great topic of discussion, one I would like to find more articles on…
profkrg says
@samanthaswade @stevecassady let me know if you find any info on using emoticons with punctuation.
BruceSallan says
I personally really dislike “emoticons” – yet another SoMe obnoxious term!
BUT, I have a request for your next “Nerd Note!” After just hearing “our” president repeatedly uses the expression, “Reason Why,” I wish you’d address how stupidly redundant those two words are together! Use one or the other!
profkrg says
@BruceSallan I don’t see any reason why I couldn’t write a Nerd Note about that. 🙂
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Kenna
TheFowlStar says
“…to ensure that my post IS misinterpreted. Being a word nerd, I also…” LOL do you mean “isn’t”? And you call yourself a word nerd =]
In my opinion, emoticons are the future of punctuation in a not-far-too-distant world. Think about it; one of the many purposes of punctuation is to describe in what tone a sentence should be read either aloud or by that little voice inside your head… if there should there be an inflection as with a question mark or an emphatic vocalization as with an exclamation point. Similarly, emoticons express those subtle nuances that the sentence itself can’t always convey.
That’s why I feel it apt to replace periods with the emoticon itself, or in the case of a question or exclamation, put it immediately after the ? or !. (On a side note, I also believe multiple punctuations will eventually become the norm. Certainly, ?! and !!! are popular enough already.)
But until the professional world catches up, we are stuck using boring old unaccompanied periods, question marks, and exclamations points in our formal writing.
Let me know what you think!