Punctuation’s Emotional Turn: A Review of Expressive Marks
The exclamation point made its debut in the mid-14th century, bringing an emotional charge to written language that many welcomed. Over the 15th century, parentheses and the apostrophe followed. A Wall Street Journal review examines how these punctuation marks acquired expressive power, tracing their historical arrival and the affective shift they signaled on the page. The review offers a window into a broader cultural history of reading and writing. Punctuation, once utilitarian, became a vehicle for feeling.
Key facts
- The exclamation point appeared in the middle of the 14th century.
- It brought what many felt was a welcome infusion of emotion onto the page.
- Parentheses and the apostrophe were introduced during the 15th century.
- The Wall Street Journal published a review on this subject.
- The review explores the expressive history of punctuation.
Entities
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