Interjections

An interjection is a word that expresses emotion and is not grammatically related to other words in the sentence. In almost all cases, an interjection is set off from the rest of the sentence using an exclamation point or a comma.

When people think of interjections, they most commonly think that they are found at the beginning of sentences. This is true. Interjections can and do appear and the beginning of sentences.  

Example:

Yikes, that haunted house was scary! 

The interjection “yikes” is found at the beginning of the sentence and helps to express the scariness of the haunted house. “Yikes” is separated from the rest of the sentence by using a comma.

As common as it is for interjections to come at the beginning of sentences, they can be found in the end of sentences as well.

Example:

It’s raining again, huh?

Here, the interjection is found at the end of the sentence.  The interjection, “huh?” is designed to express confusion, or maybe even disappointment that it’s raining again.

Interjections can also be found in the middle of sentences.

Example:

Michelle threw a pencil in class and, oh man, the teacher was mad. 

The interjection “oh man” is located in the middle of the sentence and puts emphasis on how mad the teacher was when Michelle threw the pencil.

Interjections not only can be used in the beginning, middle, and end of sentences, but they can also be found in stand-alone sentences.

Example:

Wow! Your handwriting is perfect.

The interjection “Wow!” is a stand-alone sentence. This is grammatically correct. The interjection, or the emotion felt, is the entire point of the sentence. “Wow!” shows emotion, and is separated from the other words in the sentence using an exclamation point.

Example:

Oh no! Watch out for that tree.

“Oh no!” also shows emotion (worried, concerned, scared), and is separated from the other words in the sentence using an exclamation point. Therefore, “Oh no!” is the interjection, as well as a stand-alone sentence.