Which sentence uses antithesis?

It is not the end of the road, but the start of a new journey.

Which sentence uses parenthesis correctly?

The mayor (who had promised to attend) never arrived.

How can you check that you have punctuated parenthesis correctly?

Remove the parenthesis: the sentence should still make sense

Writing for impact: antithesis, parenthesis and more

The specification gives three examples of rhetorical devices: rhetorical questions, antithesis and parenthesis. Used with control, these and a few others make your writing memorable.

GCSE · 1EN0
International GCSE · 4EA1
About 15 minutes

Practise this lesson free (7 questions)

Antithesis

Two contrasting ideas set in a balanced structure.
'We can choose to act today, or we can choose to apologise tomorrow.'
'Not a cost to be cut, but an investment to be made.'
Effect: the balance makes your choice sound obvious and memorable.

Parenthesis

Extra information dropped into a sentence, marked off by a pair of brackets, commas or dashes.
'The new car park (which cost the town two million pounds) stands empty.'
'My grandmother, a nurse for forty years, has seen it all.'
Effect: adds a sharp aside, a fact or a touch of humour without breaking the flow.
Check: the sentence must still make sense if you remove the parenthesis.

Four more for impact

Device	Example	Effect
Anaphora	'We will rebuild. We will recover. We will return.'	Repeated openings build rhythm and determination
Hypophora	'Why does this matter? Because...'	Asks a question then answers it, guiding the reader
Tricolon	'faster, cheaper, cleaner'	A group of three feels complete
Analogy	'A school without a library is like a kitchen without food.'	Explains an idea through a familiar comparison

Worked example

Improve this sentence using parenthesis and antithesis: 'The park should stay open.'

Add parenthesis with useful detail: '(the only green space for two miles)'.
Add antithesis: 'not a luxury, but a lifeline'.
Combine smoothly.

Answer: The park (the only green space for two miles) is not a luxury, but a lifeline, and it must stay open.

Key idea

Antithesis balances opposites; parenthesis adds an aside in brackets, commas or dashes; anaphora, hypophora, tricolon and analogy add rhythm and clarity. Use a few deliberately rather than many mechanically.

Key words

Antithesis: Placing opposite ideas side by side in a balanced structure, as in 'not a burden, but a gift'.
Structure: How a text is organised and ordered: openings, shifts in focus, sentence and paragraph lengths, and endings.

All GCSE and International GCSE English Language key terms and definitions →

Quick check

Try two quick questions

See if it has sunk in. Answers are marked straight away.

Extra practice

2 more questions

Try each one, then tap to check.

What is antithesis?
1. Placing contrasting ideas in a balanced structure
2. A question that needs no answer
3. Repetition at the start of sentences
4. A comparison using 'like'
Show the answer
Answer: Placing contrasting ideas in a balanced structure
Antithesis balances opposites.
Which sentence uses dashes or brackets for parenthesis correctly?
1. My brother (who is nine) loves football.
2. My brother (who is nine loves football.
3. My (brother) who is nine loves football.
4. My brother who is (nine loves) football.
Show the answer
Answer: My brother (who is nine) loves football.
The aside sits in a complete pair of brackets.

Check you have got it

Answer 7 quick questions with instant marking. If you get one wrong, GCSE-ready shows you why and gives you another go. It is free, and you do not need an account.

Practise this lesson free (7 questions)All GCSE and International GCSE English Language lessons

Video for this lesson coming soon. Subscribe on YouTube

Sources and references

Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 16 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.