Style Questions

Sentence structure - Punctuation

Inverted Commas “……………..”

There are four main functions of inverted commas.

(1)To indicate the title of something (2)For spoken words (3)For quotations (4)To mark off an individual word or

phrase from the rest of the sentence (e.g. normally shows a certain tone, colloquial etc)

Example

“Macbeth”, “Sunset Song”, “The X Files”

“Did you have a good weekend?” asked Anne.

As George Orwell said, “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”

In Victorian times foreign travel was the preserve of the “superior” classes.

Commas

to create pauses to separate items on a list to insert information in parenthesis (also dashes

and brackets do this)

A listing technique, using commas, is often used to pile up detail, leading either to climax or anti-climax – like this:

There was ice-cream, jelly, chocolate biscuits, meringues, fairy cakes, marshmallows and – finally - the birthday cake.

Question marks

Look out for rhetorical questions. They are used for dramatic effect. They don’t expect answers – e.g. “What do you think I am – stupid?”

Look for questions addressed directly to the reader (to draw them in) e.g. “Are you wondering what I’m getting at here? I’ll tell you.”

Look for questions which help structure the line of thought by leading into the answer e.g. “Are there any explanations for this? There may be. Some scientists have suggested that….”

Exclamation marks

Add dramatic emphasis and often create an emotive tone. You must always read the content carefully to establish the correct tone.

Colons (:)

A colon has three main functions. (1)Introduces a quotation (2)Introduces a list (3)Explains/expands the previous

statement

Semi-colon (;)

The semi-colon is generally a finishing pause, marking the end of a sentence but less firmly than a full stop.

It may be used to separate the phrases in a list.

It comes between two statements which are closely connected.

It can be used to balance a statement.

It can be used to contrast a statement.

Semi-colon For example:

“The morning sun shone; the evening rain fell.”

What is the function of the semi-colon?

Wrong answer: it separates the 2 phrases.

Wrong answer: it shows that it was sunny in the morning and raining in the evening.

Right answer: it separates the 2 connected phrases. The first phrase contrasts the second. In the morning it was sunny whereas by evening the weather had changed and it was raining.

Semi-colon Remember to be explicit about what the phrases have to do with each other – do they balance each other? Do they contrast each other? Does the second phrase provide an explanation for the first? Does the first phrase present a question which the second phrase answers?

In spite of ……….. ; this happened.- Uncle Bert had recently died; today they put their grief behind them and went to the theme park.- She had no common sense; she passed the exam anyway.

Because of…………. ; this happened.- The organisation had extreme influence; the buildings were demolished in spite of protests.- She drove drunk; she died at the scene.

Semi-colon Question ; answer.- Something ran out in front of me yesterday; it was a dog in clothes.- It wasn’t clear why wee Jimmy came in early from playing football in the yard; I went outside and spotted the smashed window.

statement ; more information/explanation.- Her hair was wild; all pink and green and spiky.- I enjoy sport; it keeps me healthy.

this is the opposite ; of this.- John supported Rangers; Colin loved Celtic.- Billy was a cat lover; his wife couldn’t stand the sight of them.- The woman was fat; her brother was skinny.

this is the same as ; this.- Katie is a pleasant girl; Natalie is kind.

Example

“At the time pass all characters of the Spanish streets: the dark veiled women hurrying home from the priest; the Civil Guard whom nobody greets; gold-skinned sailors and strutting carters.”

Here the colon in the first line indicates that catalogue of the “characters of the Spanish streets” is to follow. Each phrase describing a character or group is separated from the others by a semi-colon. If the list of characters had been made up of single words the writer may have simply used a comma to separate the items on the list.

The Single Dash (-)

The single dash is used to add on an extra piece of information.

It can indicate the breaking off in a sentence.

A series of dashes can show an outpouring of ideas or emotions.

For example: “As soon as our eyes met we knew it was special - it was love

at first sight.”

Here, the dash adds that it was love at first sight. It elaborates on the first idea (similar to how a colon would do.)

Beware of confusing single and double dashes. A single dash has nothing to do with parenthesis.

Two dashes (-……….-)

Two dashes can mark off an extra, non-essential piece of information in the middle of a sentence.

This technique is known as parenthesis. Parenthesis can also take the form of two

brackets or two commas.

EXAM TIP – you never, ever, ever get a mark in the exam for saying that parenthesis adds in extra information. You have to say what the extra information is and why it is there (remember purpose & effect)

Practice questions

Complete the following questions in the Higher language book. They will test your understanding of colons, semi-colons, single dashes and parenthesis.

You must remember that although you have to identify the punctuation used the marker is more interested in your explanation of the effect the punctuation has.

P.22 Qs 1-10.

Answers to practice questions 1. Colon introduces a list. 2. Semi-colon shows a link between two halves of the sentence,

the second half was the consequence of the first.3. Semi-colon shows the contrast in the sentence. 4. In the first sentence the colon introduces a list of colours. In

the second sentence, semi-colons are used to split up the items in a list.

5. Use of the dash to add extra information. 6. Semi-colon used to create contrast in the sentence. 7. Parenthesis used to indicate the things that interest the

writer. 8. Semi-colon splits up description into aspects: trees, fields etc. 9. Parenthesis used to allow the author to put his/her own

feelings into the description. Repeated use of dashes indicates rapid thought/excitement.

10. Colon introduces a list of alternative explanations, all items on the list are separated by a semi-colon. Dash is used to add in extra information.