Donald Trump employed an estimated 57,000 exclamation marks across 33,000 tweets, according to an analysis highlighted in a review of Florence Hazrat's new book, "On The Mark." The book delves into the history and impact of punctuation, from ancient civilizations to modern digital communication.
Hazrat's work, as detailed in the review, explores how punctuation marks, often overlooked, significantly shape the meaning and emotional tone of text. The review cites an example of a CNN alert about a "crab walked" killer crab, which could induce panic. The inclusion of a hyphen, turning it into "crab-walked," immediately dispels such fears, underscoring the critical role of punctuation in clarity.
Scholars have noted the psychological effect of punctuation. A professor of social psychology quoted in the review suggests that an exclamation mark can induce "low level anxiety" in readers. This, the review posits, aligns with a common political tactic of generating fervor or alarm among voters to mobilize support and achieve electoral success.
The book traces the origins of punctuation back to ancient Egypt and highlights figures like Aristophanes of Byzantium, who introduced dots in the 2nd century BC to guide public readings. It also touches upon the fascination of writers such as Ben Jonson with the dash, seeing it as a way to mirror "individual and social chaos" in prose. The review notes that modern AI language models, like ChatGPT, also exhibit a tendency to use dashes frequently.
Hazrat's book, described as an "enthusiastic new book," is presented as an entertaining examination of the characters and historical developments that have shaped written language. The review suggests that while occasionally appearing "obsessive," the book offers a compelling look at the evolution of punctuation and its profound influence on communication.