"Gen Z, I know, believe full stops signify an abrupt or angry tone of voice and avoid using them! Why is this latest research bad for women? Because it found that women use exclamation marks in communication three times more often than men do, something rooted in their realisation that society will reject them as cold and unfriendly if they don't go out of their way to appear enthusiastic!"
"You see? Now that we tend to primarily communicate in writing, it's easy to read a neutral tone as aggressive or hostile! Maybe this is better: it's nice to meet you!!! Did we just become best friends? No, I am still at best ambivalent about you! But the exclamation mark made you think I am warmer and more approachable than I really am!"
Research found that women use exclamation marks in communication about three times more often than men. Women increase exclamation use partly to avoid appearing cold or unfriendly when communicating digitally. Exclamation marks raise perceived warmth and approachability but also reduce perceptions of analytical ability and professional authority. Generational differences influence punctuation: many Gen Z readers interpret full stops as abrupt or angry. Formal communications and official announcements typically avoid exclamation marks to preserve seriousness. The gendered trade-off between warmth and perceived competence shapes how women adapt punctuation to social expectations.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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