1. What is an Interjection?
An interjection is a word or phrase used to express strong emotion, surprise, or reaction.
It is often followed by an exclamation mark (!) or a comma (,), depending on the intensity.
Examples:
-
Wow! That’s amazing!
-
Oh, I didn’t know that.
-
Yikes! That looks painful.
-
Hmm, I’m not sure about that.
 Interjections stand alone or at the beginning of a sentence and are not grammatically connected to other parts of the sentence.
2. Common Interjections and Their Uses
Interjection | Emotion/Tone | Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
Wow! | Surprise, amazement | Wow! This place is beautiful. |
Oops! | Mistake or accident | Oops! I dropped my phone. |
Hey! | Calling attention | Hey! Watch out! |
Oh no! | Sadness or alarm | Oh no! I forgot my homework. |
Yay! | Happiness, excitement | Yay! We won the game! |
Ugh! | Disgust or frustration | Ugh! I hate this smell. |
Hmm… | Thinking, uncertainty | Hmm… Let me think about it. |
Aha! | Realization | Aha! I knew it! |
3. Punctuation Rules for Interjections
Interjections can be followed by:
-
An exclamation mark (!) for strong emotions
-
A comma (,) for mild emotions or soft expressions
Examples:
-
Yikes! That dog is huge! (strong reaction)
-
Well, I suppose we could try again. (mild tone)
Tip: Don’t overuse interjections in formal writing. They’re more common in spoken language, dialogue, and informal writing.
Â
Summary
-
Interjections are words or phrases that show strong emotion or reaction.
-
They are usually followed by an exclamation mark (!) or comma (,).
-
Interjections are commonly used in spoken or informal writing.
-
Using interjections adds emotion, tone, and personality to your language.