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Sentence control and punctuation for effect
In both GCSE writing tasks, accurate and varied sentences earn a big share of the marks. This lesson recaps the Key Stage 3 basics and shows how to use them for effect.
Three sentence types
Punctuation that joins and separates
Full stop: ends a complete sentence.
Comma splice (an error): joining two complete sentences with only a comma. 'The bell rang, everyone ran.' is wrong.
Semicolon: joins two closely linked complete sentences. 'The bell rang; everyone ran.'
Colon: introduces an explanation or a list. 'She had one aim: to win.'
Comma after an opening clause: 'When the bell rang, everyone ran.'
Comma splice (an error): joining two complete sentences with only a comma. 'The bell rang, everyone ran.' is wrong.
Semicolon: joins two closely linked complete sentences. 'The bell rang; everyone ran.'
Colon: introduces an explanation or a list. 'She had one aim: to win.'
Comma after an opening clause: 'When the bell rang, everyone ran.'
Using sentences for effect
Short sentences create tension, shock or emphasis.
Long sentences can build detail or a flowing, breathless feeling.
Varied openings keep writing lively: start with an adverb ('Slowly,'), a preposition ('Beneath the bridge,'), a verb ending in -ing ('Shivering,') or a subordinate clause ('As the lights went out,').
Long sentences can build detail or a flowing, breathless feeling.
Varied openings keep writing lively: start with an adverb ('Slowly,'), a preposition ('Beneath the bridge,'), a verb ending in -ing ('Shivering,') or a subordinate clause ('As the lights went out,').
Fix this comma splice in two different ways: 'The house was silent, nobody had lived there for years.'
- Option 1: use a full stop. 'The house was silent. Nobody had lived there for years.'
- Option 2: use a semicolon, because the ideas are closely linked. 'The house was silent; nobody had lived there for years.'
- Option 3 also works: add a joining word. 'The house was silent because nobody had lived there for years.'
Answer: 'The house was silent. Nobody had lived there for years.' or 'The house was silent; nobody had lived there for years.'
Know simple, compound and complex sentences. Never join two sentences with just a comma. Use semicolons and colons accurately, and vary sentence length and openings for effect.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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