Interjection
Interjection
Interjections are words used to express emotional states.
They can usually be found in narrative writing, interviews, and in spoken
English. They can stand alone. For example:
Oh!,
wow!, Ouch! Oops! Hey!
Punctuation
Note: They are punctuated with either commas or exclamation
marks. Mild interjections are followed by a comma, but stronger interjections
are punctuated with an exclamation mark (!) .
Oh, we’re
late for the movie.
Generally, the movies is not an important destination.
Therefore, the person making this statement will sound less urgent than the
next example.
Oh! I’m
late for work.
Work, unlike the movies, is
generally considered a very important destination. If one doesn’t arrive on
time, there is the possibility of being fired or of losing face. Here, the
speaker will have a greater sense of urgency.
Generally, you do not find interjections in academic writing.
