Survey identifies a continuing change in how language and writing are evolving
By Joe Diorio
FORT MYERS, FL (September 2025) – If you use an emoji at the end of a sentence – something 85% of us do – where does the punctuation go? Before or after the emoji?
A survey suggests that emojis either go right after the sentence-ending punctuation, or they are replacing said punctuation altogether 😊
Joe Diorio, author of A Few Words About Words. A common-sense look at writing and grammar (Beaufort Books) conducted an online survey in advance of National Punctuation Day (September 24) and found that:
- 85% of the respondents use an emoji every time they write something.
- 14% said they use an emoji before the sentence-ending punctuation.
- 40% of the respondents use an emoji at the end of a sentence instead of traditional punctuation marks – a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point. 😉
- 46% said they use emojis after the sentence-ending punctuation. So, the period still has a slight lead on the no period group. Or are emojis becoming a new form of punctuation themselves?
“We continually evolve language through continued use,” says Diorio. “Email was once called ‘Electronic Mail.’ A phone was once called ‘the telephone,’ so it’s not surprising to see this change in punctuation taking place. What is cool is we get to witness language changing as this evolution happens.”
Using email or LinkedIn messaging, Diorio reached out to approximately 300 communications professionals – public relations professionals, journalists, writers – and asked them to participate in the survey. “The respondents are people who write every day, so they have a good feel for language,” Diorio said. Approximately one-third of those contacted completed the survey.
“This is a fitting observance for National Punctuation Day (September 24),” Diorio said. “Punctuation’s roots date back to the early days of the written word. Someone reading printed text needed visual cues as to when to pause or when a sentence ends. Punctuation helps with the overall comprehension of the written message. Emojis are serving that same purpose, albeit with a bit more personality.”
A resident of Lee County, Florida, Diorio is the author of two books, the aforementioned A Few Words About Words, and Crisis Communications and the art of making nothing happen. Both are available through Amazon and other online resources.
Emoji Usage
Do you use an emoji before/after/in place of punctuation?
Contact:
Joe Diorio
610-291-2176
Joe Diorio Writer, editor. 