Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Interrobang Appreciation Society

theministryoftruth:

The Interrobang (the mutation between an interrogative point and a bang/exclamation mark) could be the most useful punctuation mark that you don’t use. It was invented by Martin K. Speckter in the 1960s and was designed to be used in a few ways - “(1) asks a question in an excited manner, (2) expresses excitement or disbelief in the form of a question, or (3) asks a rhetorical question”. I often struggle with what to use in such instances and often use a “!?” or “?!” and even miss them both out sometimes when I’m really troubled by what to do! While the “!?” and “?!” are semi-acceptable in informal writing I’ve always felt a little embarrassed when I’ve use them. Not any more though. I propose that an International Interrobang Appreciation Society (IIAS) should be created to force all typeface creators to include the useful mark and also keyboard manufacturers to include one - maybe in place of the tilde and preferably on an Ektopia Modified Quektopia keyboard. Anyways, I don’t have the time or know-how to save the interrobang (apart from use it here and everywhere else I can) so I offer you the International Interrobang Appreciation Society (IIAS) to use as you will. The International Interrobang Appreciation Society (IIAS) is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence so use the interrobang, create websites, print t-shirts, publish books, hold conventions, protest peacefully or do anything else you feel is fit for getting the interrobang back in business. Good luck…I have a feeling we’ll need it!

I’ll join! Is there an ASCII code for an interrobang? Actually, I just aswered my own question. Here it is: “‽” That’s “‽” in HTML.