Level 2 Punctuation

Ellipsis (...) can be used for what two things?

• For a cliffhanger at the end of a paragraph

• For an extended pause in the middle of a sentence

• To show speech

• To show ownership

Which of the following sentences use ellipsis to create a pause correctly?

• Amelia sat the exam in June... weeks later the dreaded results day arrived.

• Amelia sat the exam... in June weeks later the dreaded results day arrived.

• Amelia sat the exam in June weeks later the dreaded results... day arrived.

• Amelia sat... the exam in June... weeks later the dreaded results day arrived.

Which of the following sentences uses ellipsis for a pause correctly?

• Zuzanna's exam was simply... incredible.

• Zuzanna's... exam was simply incredible.

• Zuzanna's exam... was... simply incredible...

• Zuzanna's exam was simply incredible...

A cliffhanger is creating uncertainty at the end of a sentence. Which of these uses ellipsis best to do this?

• The deadline was tomorrow. Sophie hadn't started the work. There was only one way out of this...

• Lucy and Aoife were kicked out of Science for using the bunsen burners to start small fires...

• As summer drew closer Joe was less and less bothered. In fact this morning he didn't bother trying to be on time for the bus...

• Dominika had had enough, she was going to tell Mrs Doherty exactly how much she hated all the noise in Mr McAnea's room, it was ridiculous...

Which of these best creates a cliffhanger?

• Mason slowly opened the results envelope and gulped. This was not what he had expected...

• Noah and Cahain knew it, they were the best athletes in the class, not Thomas...

• Jaco and Thomas knew it, there were the best musicians in the class, not Taylor...

• Cadia and Wiktoria walked straight into the room, and took out their books, ready to work...

What are brackets best used for in persuasive writing?

• To give a humorous 'extra' aside

• To end a sentence

• To create a pause

• To introduce speech

What sentence uses brackets best?

• Mrs Doherty couldn't believe how terrible the class was (and she had seen some bad classes!).

• Mrs Doherty couldn't believe how terrible the class was (they were loud).

• Mrs Doherty couldn't believe how terrible the class was (she was very surprised at how bad they were).

• Mrs Doherty couldn't believe how terrible the class was (it was also Monday morning).

Colons (:) are used to do what?

• Introduce a quote, list, phrase, question etc

• End a sentence

• Start a sentence

• Show humour

Which of these sentences use colons best?

• Warning: if you don't bring in your homework you will get a detention!

• Warning if you don't: bring in your homework you will get a detention!

• Warning if you don't bring in your homework you will get a: detention!

• Warning if you don't bring in your homework you: will get a detention!

Which of these sentences use colons best?

• For GCSE I am going to study: English, Maths, Science, Sport and Art.

• For GCSE I am: going to study English, Maths, Science, Sport and Art.

• For GCSE I am going to study: English: Maths: Science: Sport: and Art.

• For GCSE I: am going to study English, Maths, Science, Sport and Art.