There is one part of speech that is drastically different from the others. Unlike nouns, pronouns, prepositions, adjectives, and the rest, this part of speech doesn’t help someone understand the relationships between words. It does not serve any real grammatical purpose either. This fascinating group of words is called interjections, and they are truly special. Read on to know why.
What are Interjections?
The word “interjection” is derived from the Latin words inter (between) and jacĕre (to throw).
Interjections are words that express a variety of strong emotions or feelings, from happiness, anger, surprise, pain, to dismay, boredom, enthusiasm, and more. Unlike other parts of speech, interjections have no impact on the grammar of a sentence. However, they can be used to enhance the meaning of a sentence, regardless of the tense, verbs, or subject. Interjections are also usually, but not always, followed by exclamation marks.
Let’s look at some examples:
Ouch! That water’s boiling hot!
Here, the interjection is used to express pain.
Wow! The painting is beautiful!
Here, the interjection is used to express admiration.
Oops! I dropped it again!
This interjection is used when people do something by accident.
Jeez! Can you believe that?
This interjection is used to express exasperation or when something is hard to believe.
Placing Interjections in a Sentence
Interjections can be placed at the beginning of a sentence, as in the above examples. This rule, however, is not cast in stone. Interjections can appear in the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence to express different feelings and tones. They can be placed after any part of speech, such as a noun, an adjective, or a verb.
Let’s look at some examples:
That’s an interesting book, hmm?
Putting the interjection at the end of the sentence turns it into a question that seems to invite someone else to share their opinion, or to ask them if they agree with the speaker.
Hmm! That’s an interesting book!
Placing the interjection at the beginning of a sentence turns it into a statement. It doesn’t really sound like the speaker is inviting someone else to share their opinion.
That’s a really, hmm, interesting book.
Putting the interjection in the middle of a sentence conveys a different meaning. Here, it is used to express a feeling of doubt or uncertainty about how interesting the book is.
Interjections can also be used on their own, although they may not make sense if the speaker or writer has not adequately described the circumstances that caused them to use that interjection.
When an interjection is placed within a sentence, it must be separated from the rest of the sentence with the help of commas or parentheses. It cannot simply be dropped in with nothing to distinguish it from the rest of the sentence.
Here are some examples to understand this better:
Incorrect – I couldn’t complete my math assignment on time oops but Mrs. Ellison gave me an extra day to finish it.
Correct – I couldn’t complete my math assignment on time, oops, but Mrs. Ellison gave me an extra day to finish it.
Correct – I couldn’t complete my math assignment on time (oops) but Mrs. Ellison gave me an extra day to finish it.
Incorrect – You may not have won the race but hey at least you tried.
Correct – You may not have won the race but, hey, at least you tried.
Correct – You may not have won the race but (hey) at least you tried.
Incorrect – The project was delayed because some students were ahem otherwise engaged and couldn’t be bothered to work on it.
Correct – The project was delayed because some students were, ahem, otherwise engaged and couldn’t be bothered to work on it.
Correct – The project was delayed because some students were (ahem) otherwise engaged and couldn’t be bothered to work on it.
When to Use Interjections
While the usage of interjections appears to be quite straightforward, the bigger concern for students is whether it is appropriate to use them in academic writing. It is perfectly acceptable to use interjections in informal speech and writing. Using them in formal writing such as essays, assignments, research papers, and even while emailing a professor gives the impression of frivolity and easygoingness.
A Brief List of Interjections and the Associated Emotions
- Annoyance – Hmph! Hey! Oy!
- Dissatisfaction – Darn! Blast!
- Panic – Aargh! Eek! Uh-oh!
- Boredom – Sigh! Ho-hum!
- Doubt – Hmm, Um, Er
- Pleasure – Mmm, Oh yeah
- Disapproval – Tut, Tsk tsk
- Embarrassment – Ahem
- Realization – Ohh! Ahh! Eureka!
- Disgust – Eww! Yuck! Ugh!
- Relief – Phew! Whew! Whoa!
- Joy/Ecstasy – Woo-hoo! Hurrah! Hooray!
- Sadness/Loss – Alas!
- Pain – Ouch! Ow!
- Dismay – Oh no!
- Surprise – Oh! Crikey! Jeepers!
The English language has hundreds of interesting and colorful interjections that students can use to add richness and meaning to their writing.
Ready to unleash those interjections? Hooray!
