Parenthesis: brackets, dashes and commas
I can choose when to use brackets, dashes or commas for most effective parenthesis.
Parenthesis: brackets, dashes and commas
I can choose when to use brackets, dashes or commas for most effective parenthesis.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Parenthesis can be achieved with a range of punctuation: brackets, dashes and commas.
- Any type of parenthesis is additional information that can be removed without compromising grammatical accuracy.
- Brackets are useful in non-fiction writing to add extra, factual information.
- Dashes are useful in fiction writing for dramatic effect.
- Commas are useful to drop information in to a clause.
Keywords
Parenthesis - additional information that is added to a sentence; if it is removed, the sentence still makes sense
Brackets - a punctuation mark used to add extra, factual information in a clause
Dashes - a punctuation mark to add extra information in a clause often for dramatic effect
Clause - a group of words that contains a verb
Phrase - a group of words with no verb
Common misconception
Pupils may believe dashes and commas are used interchangeably in fiction writing.
We favour using dashes when we are showing a dramatic effect and commas when simply adding detail.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
Loading...
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Instantly,
At that very second,
Before we knew what was happening,
Now, add the flour into the mixture.
With great care, add the flour into the mixture.
Once you have beaten the eggs, add the flour to the mixture.
Just then,
With a sigh,
To my left,
Even though it was raining,
Unless you do your work,
Exit quiz
6 Questions
to add detail in fiction and non-fiction
to add dramatic effect in fiction
to add extra, factual information in non-fiction