Using dashes, colons, and commas for effect in descriptive writing
I can use punctuation accurately and explain its effect.
Using dashes, colons, and commas for effect in descriptive writing
I can use punctuation accurately and explain its effect.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A dash can be used to indicate a pause, added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought.
- Dashes can be used to replace brackets or colons.
- Commas are used to separate words, clauses or ideas within a sentence.
- Colons can be used to connect main clauses, add emphasis to a word or phrase, or introduce an explanation.
- Colons can also be used to introduce lists.
Keywords
Effect - A noun used to denote a consequence, an outcome, a result, or an influence.
Tone - The general mood or feeling of a text.
Accurate - To be correct, exact and without any mistakes.
Punctuation - The marks, such as full-stops and commas, used in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning.
Common misconception
That looking at punctuation is very dry and has no impact on the way you see a text or a character.
The way that writers use and play with punctuation can have a profound impact on the way we view a text or character's emotions.
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
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Comma after the subordinate clause
Commas around the subordinate clause
No comma