interrobang — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The nonstandard punctuation mark ⟨‽⟩ (a combination of ⟨?⟩ and ⟨!⟩), which may be used at the end of a sentence to express excitement or disbelief, or to indicate that it is a rhetorical question.

   Examples

   More examples (4)

   Has anyone seen an interrobang? It's a newly invented punctuation mark that looks like this: ‽ A question mark with an exclamation point superimposed, it's meant to convey that nuance of feeling—a mixture of query and surprise—that people have in mind when they say "Really?", also meaning "Really!", or "How about that‽" […] The cure for incredibility is not more punctuation, but more plain talk. We don't need symbols like the interrobang that merely express our perpetual disbelief. We need plain words to express plain truths.

   The Interrobang is not a font – just a single character. Yet it is so powerful a symbol, and such a flawed and original concept, that it deserves a place alongside the most adventurous typographic innovations of the last century. It is an exclamation mark and a question mark combined, a ligature looping the curve of the interrogation with the downward force of the expletive (which compositors and printers have traditionally called a bang). When they meld, they need only one round point at their base.

   Popular as it was with writers and admen, the interrobang faced a struggle for mainstream acceptance. Simulating an interrobang on a typewriter was possible, if clumsy—type "?" and then overstrike it with "!"—but for typesetters creating a printed document, there was no such shortcut. Those advertisements, brochures, and books that actually honored the writer's use of the character had to be set using handcrafted interrobangs, either drawn by an illustrator or sculpted from rubber cement with a razor blade.

   Introduce the notion of combining punctuation marks in new ways. Explain the Interabang and its use as a nonstandard punctuation mark intended to combine the functions of the question mark and the exclamation mark. Allowing your students the use of all keyboard symbols to create additional punctuation forms, what other punctuation combinations would prove useful in allowing greater expression through punctuation?

2. A combination of a question mark and an exclamation mark; ⟨!?⟩ or ⟨?!⟩.

   Usage

   • Rare

   Examples

   More examples (3)

   Interrobang — !?, ?!, or ‽ / What?! You’ve never heard of the interrobang!? Really? Well, now you have, so all is forgiven. An interrobang is […] used to end sentences where you really want both the exclamation point and the question mark. […] The word is used to describe both the two side by side (!? or ?!) or the combined symbol (‽).

   For instance, Taylor (2002: 568–570) discusses the ‘incredulity response construction’ in English as an example of a CI, exemplified by expressions such as Him write a novel?! and Me worry?! The CI has the schematic form of [nom_(sbj) v_(inf) (np)?!]. When written, it is often punctuated with an interrobang (‽ or ?!).

   My Jungle page had become bloated with messages since the press conference — notes from people at school, neighbors and strangers. A few people from Star Club left nice comments, and a few classmates wrote “so sorry to hear” messages. Even an interrobang-filled rant from Sasha Rosenberg?!

   It was not until entering the fourth movement when he would finally stop all strumming to interject with an interrobang: “WHERE is that voice COMING from!?”

   Now, when we run it without supplying a value for the $City parameter, we get a message suggesting we type an interrobang (!?) for help: […]

Verb

1. To exclaim and question at the same time.

   Usage

   • Humorous

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   “I think I can help Carli, but I have to move fast. Federal agents are going to descend on this place like locusts in about twenty minutes, max, and they’ll detain everyone. It’ll be days, at least, before they’re done interrobanging around.”

   "Qhoenix!?" interrobanged Lrig Lanoisnemid-Eno. "You can't do this!"

   "Rhinnick worked with Dr. Peericks?!" gasped Ian, interrobanging like nobody's business.