Should I use a comma or an exclamation point

In: Weird he is a genius. Tom, you've got to admit it.

Is it
Weird! he is a genius. Tom, you've got to admit it.
or
Weird, he is a genius. Tom, you've got to admit it.


I think they both are acceptable, but what would determine which one goes when?

 

I assume that this is someone speaking?

I think that the word "Weird" is effectively a sentence - it communicates "That's weird." or "That was weird." or "He's weird." or something of the sort. So it should stand as its own sentence.

So:

"Weird! He is a genius. Tom, you've got to admit it."
or
"Weird. He is a genius. Tom, you've got to admit it."

"Tom" also puzzles me. Placed where it is, it says to me that the speaker is talking to a group that includes Tom, and then specifically turning to Tom. If he's just speaking to Tom, I'd make the line:

"Weird. He is a genius, Tom. You've got to admit it."
or
"Weird. He is a genius, Tom, you've got to admit it." though I don't like this one as well.

ChickenFreak

 

imo, it can be written with a period, exclamation mark, or none at all. It just depends on the tone you are trying to covey or how the character says it.

"Weird he is a genius. Tom, you've got to admit it." is totally fine

 

Why weird?

 

Weird! He is a genius. Tom, you've got to admit it.
or
Weird! He is a genius, Tom, you've got to admit it.
or
Weird... He is a genius. Tom, you've got to admit it.
or
Weird... He is a genius, Tom, you've got to admit it.
or
Weird! He is a genius. Tom, you've got to admit it.
or
Weird...he is a genius, Tom, you've got to admit it.

No comma after 'weird'.
Generally, in British punctuation, and according to guidelines for the publisher that I follow, when an ellipsis is used there can be three dots and a full stop followed by a space OR three dots and a space to signify the end of a sentence. No space if the sentence continues. This may be different in the US, or vary according to publisher, I don't know.

 

Definitely "Weird! He is a genius, Tom, you've got to admit it."

In my humble opinion, of course.

 

One thing others haven't picked up: lower case after an exclamation mark is archaic (although I used it recently on this board for deliberate effect), and even the archaic case it wouln't be used there.

 

halcyon's choice is the best, imo...

the markless and the comma versions make no sense and wouldn't be correct grammar...