Grammar for writing: using brackets and dashes

In this lesson, we will be covering how to use brackets and dashes accurately.We will be using them to explore how you can create a convincing narrative voice.

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Q1.It's or its? "The chicken has escaped from _____ coop."

itsit's

1/8

Q2.It's or its? "____ nearly bedtime."

itsit's

2/8

Q3.It's or its? "My family has _____ moments of madness. "

itsit's

3/8

Q4.Imply or infer? "From his tone of voice, we can _________ that he was angry. "

implyinfer

4/8

Q5.Affect or effect? "When analysing language, you should think about the ___________ on the reader. "

affecteffect

5/8

Q6.Practice or practise? "I am going to be late for football ______________. "

practicepractise

6/8

Q7.There, their or they're? "I think I left my homework over _________. "

theirthey'rethere

7/8

Q8.There, their or they're? "I never read magazines when ___________ full of celebrity gossip. "

theirthey'rethere

8/8

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Q1.It's or its? "The chicken has escaped from _____ coop."

itsit's

1/8

Q2.It's or its? "____ nearly bedtime."

itsit's

2/8

Q3.It's or its? "My family has _____ moments of madness. "

itsit's

3/8

Q4.Imply or infer? "From his tone of voice, we can _________ that he was angry. "

implyinfer

4/8

Q5.Affect or effect? "When analysing language, you should think about the ___________ on the reader. "

affecteffect

5/8

Q6.Practice or practise? "I am going to be late for football ______________. "

practicepractise

6/8

Q7.There, their or they're? "I think I left my homework over _________. "

theirthey'rethere

7/8

Q8.There, their or they're? "I never read magazines when ___________ full of celebrity gossip. "

theirthey'rethere

8/8

Video

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This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Brackets and Dashes: Quiz

Thank you for your focus today. Complete the questions below to check your understanding.

Q1.Which of the phrases below could be used to complete the sentence. Parenthesis is...

a way of adding extra information to the sentencemarked by a pair of brackets, dashes or commasmarked by a semicolonusually optional detail

1/9

Q2.Match up the following punctuation mark with its name and function: ;

hyphen (used to join compound words)semicolon (used to link related main clauses)colon (used to introduce information to clarify, explain or emphasise)brackets (used to add non-essential information)dash (used to emphasise additional information)

2/9

Q3.Match up the following punctuation mark with its name and function: -

3/9

Q4.Match up the following punctuation mark with its name and function: ( )

4/9

Q5.Match up the following punctuation mark with its name and function: :

5/9

Q6.Match up the following punctuation mark with its name and function: —

6/9

Q7.Which of the following rules for using brackets are true?

a pair of brackets surround the extra information.the extra information is essentialthe extra information inside the brackets should be a main clausefull stops should never go inside the bracket

7/9

Q8.Which sentence uses brackets correctly?

I was devastated to learn that the bookshop one of my only places (of refuge and comfort) was closing down.I was devastated (to learn that the bookshop) one of my only places of refuge and comfort was closing down.I was (devastated) to learn that the bookshop one of my only places of refuge and comfort was closing down.I was devastated to learn that the bookshop (one of my only places of refuge and comfort) was closing down.

8/9

Q9.Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

He blinked — dazed by the sunlight and searched the sky.He blinked dazed by the sunlight and — searched the sky.He blinked— dazed by the sunlight — and searched the sky.He blinked dazed — by the sunlight and — searched the sky.

9/9

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Brackets and Dashes: Quiz

Thank you for your focus today. Complete the questions below to check your understanding.

Q1.Which of the phrases below could be used to complete the sentence. Parenthesis is...

a way of adding extra information to the sentencemarked by a pair of brackets, dashes or commasmarked by a semicolonusually optional detail

1/9

Q2.Match up the following punctuation mark with its name and function: ;

2/9

Q3.Match up the following punctuation mark with its name and function: -

3/9

Q4.Match up the following punctuation mark with its name and function: ( )

4/9

Q5.Match up the following punctuation mark with its name and function: :

5/9

Q6.Match up the following punctuation mark with its name and function: —

6/9

Q7.Which of the following rules for using brackets are true?

a pair of brackets surround the extra information.the extra information is essentialthe extra information inside the brackets should be a main clausefull stops should never go inside the bracket

7/9

Q8.Which sentence uses brackets correctly?

8/9

Q9.Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

9/9

Lesson summary: Grammar for writing: using brackets and dashes

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The next lesson in:
Grammar for Writing
is:
Refining punctuation in creative writing

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Grammar for writing: using brackets and dashes

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Video

Brackets and Dashes: Quiz

Brackets and Dashes: Quiz

Lesson summary: Grammar for writing: using brackets and dashes

It looks like you have not completed one of the quizzes.

Time to move!

The next lesson in: Grammar for Writing is: Refining punctuation in creative writing

Browse Oak's lessons:

The next lesson in:
Grammar for Writing
is:
Refining punctuation in creative writing