Wordsmith grammarians would probably think my "messing" with punctuation is a travesty.
But....I learned a lesson a few years back......from a 5 yr. old.
Ever the teacher, after reading aloud to grandson & pre-kindergartener, Owen, I asked him a question.
Notice I did NOT stop and ask a question while reading aloud! Such an interruption can ruin the integrity of the story, especially for a pre-schooler.
AFTER reading, I pointed to some different punctuations in the story and offered meanings----for a period, that means stop. I pointed to an ! and asked him what it was.
He replied, That one's easy----it's an excitement. (Out of the mouth of babes.)
"Your exactly right I said." Adults call it an exclamation point but I like the name which you coined much better. To this day, I think "excitement" everytime I see an exclamation point!
Recently, I noticed while emailing a verse to 3 friends, who were ministering in Uganda, that I used an exclamation point where none was noted.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth. 1 CHRONICLES 16:31, KJV)
I automatically put ! at the end of "The Lord reigneth!" because I think that is exciting news. Later I discovered KJV translators, rarely, if ever, use exclamation points. So, what's the answer? Try the NIV or ESV versions.
...."Punctuate your life with excitements," as my grandson says!!!
