What is an interjection?
An interjection is a word or short phrase that shows a sudden feeling or reaction. Interjections are not grammatically connected to the rest of the sentence. They stand on their own and add emotion.
Wow! Look at that rainbow.
Oops, I spilled my milk.
Hooray! We won!
Interjections are one of the eight parts of speech, and they are probably the most fun.
What feelings do interjections show?
| Feeling | Interjections |
|---|---|
| Surprise | wow, whoa, oh, gosh, really |
| Happiness | hooray, yay, yippee, woohoo |
| Pain | ouch, ow, yikes |
| Disgust | ew, yuck, ugh, gross |
| Mistake | oops, whoops, uh-oh |
| Relief | phew, whew |
| Hesitation | um, uh, hmm, well |
| Greeting | hi, hello, hey |
| Agreement | yes, okay, sure, uh-huh |
| Getting attention | hey, psst, ahem |
Punctuating interjections
How you punctuate an interjection depends on how strong the feeling is.
Strong interjections
A strong interjection shows powerful emotion. It usually stands alone and is followed by an exclamation mark.
Yikes! A spider!
Help! I’m stuck!
Mild interjections
A mild interjection shows gentler feeling. It is followed by a comma and joined to the sentence.
Oh, I forgot my lunch.
Well, that was interesting.
Hmm, let me think.
Interjections in the middle or end
Interjections can also appear later in a sentence, set off by commas:
That movie was, wow, really long.
You’re coming too, right?
Interjections in writing
Interjections are most at home in dialogue, the words characters speak. They make characters sound real and show their feelings without having to explain them.
Without: "I dropped the cake," said Leo, feeling upset.
With: "Oh no! I dropped the cake!" cried Leo.
The interjection tells us how Leo feels immediately.
When not to use interjections
Interjections create a casual, chatty tone. That is perfect for stories, comics, texts and friendly letters. In formal writing, such as reports, essays and business letters, avoid them.
- Story: "Whoa! That volcano is erupting!" ✓
- Science report: "Whoa! The volcano erupted in 1980." ✗
- Science report: "The volcano erupted in 1980." ✓
Also avoid using too many. If every sentence has wow!, the excitement stops meaning anything.
Interjections around the world
Every language has its own interjections, and they can sound very different. English speakers say ouch when they are hurt; French speakers say aïe; Spanish speakers say ay. Even animal sounds and laughter vary from language to language, which is a fun thing to explore with friends who speak other languages.
Worked examples
Example 1: Find the interjection. Phew, the test is finally over.
→ Phew (relief, mild, followed by a comma).
Example 2: Add an interjection to show disgust. "There’s a hair in my soup."
→ "Ew! There’s a hair in my soup."
Example 3: Strong or mild? Hey! Give that back!
→ Strong (exclamation mark).
Common mistakes
- Using several exclamation marks: Wow!!!! → Wow!
- Forgetting the comma after a mild interjection: Oh I see. → Oh, I see.
- Using interjections in formal writing.
Try it yourself
- Underline the interjection: Hooray, it’s a snow day!
- Add the right punctuation: Ouch that hurt
- Write an interjection for each feeling: surprise, relief, disgust.
- Rewrite with an interjection: She was surprised to see the present. (as dialogue)
Answers: 1. Hooray. 2. Ouch! That hurt! 3. Answers will vary, for example wow, phew, yuck. 4. Example: "Oh my! A present for me?" she gasped.
Tip for families
Read a comic book together and hunt for interjections in the speech bubbles. Count how many feelings you can find, then make your own three-panel comic using at least three different interjections.
Quick recap
- Interjections show sudden feelings.
- Strong ones take an exclamation mark; mild ones take a comma.
- They work best in dialogue and casual writing.
- Use them sparingly so they keep their punch.