What is an Interjection?

Interjection - Use it

A word or phrase that is added (or “interjected”) into a sentence with the purpose of conveying emotion is called an. You might notice that sentences that contain an interjection tend to also contain an exlamation mark, though that isn’t always necessary.

Interjections can be used in all types of writing, but you don’t tend to see it used formally as much (read: in academia), since by definition you are trying to convey emotion with it, and formal writing is mainly concerned with facts, and objectivity, not emotion. Interjections are often used, for example, to bring your dialouge to life in fiction writing.

Below you will find some sentences that contain interjections. I have highlighted the interjection so that you can distinguish them from the rest of their respective sentences:

Ouch, that stings!

Oh flip, I forgot to bring my shaving cream.

Hey! Give me back my wallet!

I heard othe bartender say to the horse, “Why the long face, eh?”

My brother doesn’t think so but, good heavens, I think enchiladas are good!

There are many uses for interjection. Listen in on some conversation today and you will hear them constantly. If one of your writing goals is to write realistically, and if it isn’t it should be, then you will want to start applying interjections in your writing. They help your writing sound real, fresh, and believable.

Happy writing!

Justin