Punctuation and grammar Flashcards
Period effect
Can used for emphasis or dramatic effect, where a full stop between each word creates a pause and adds impact
Comma effect
allow compound sentences to be built up, adding richness and complexity to language. By separating parts of the sentence, the pause of the comma gives the listener time to process what has gone before. It also sends signals about meaning and can be used to avoid ambiguity. Can also be used for listing when they want to put forth the main idea first, and provide details to elucidate the idea further thereafter
Exclamation point effect
It is intended to indicate strong feelings and convey emotion, as well as to indicate shouting or high volume.
Question mark effect
can be used to express uncertainty or doubt or any other unknown
colon effect
In speech, they provide a pause: longer than a semicolon, but shorter than a period. The colon can accentuate the difference between two sentences.
Semicolon effect
are stronger than commas, and weaker than periods, they play an important role in joining independent clauses to give proper meaning to a sentence. They also help in removing sentence fragments and comma splices in writing, making it cohesive and well-connected.
Bullet point effect
Signify a complete, contained, discrete thought. They encapsulate some nugget of information, separate from everything else. Highlight important information, direct the reader to themed lists.
Dash effect
A dash is used to emphasise what follows. Can also be used to highlight repetition.
Hyphen effect
It causes an abrupt pause that draws a dramatic halt to the rhythm and flow of a sentence.
Parenthesis effect
Provides extra information, interrupts the syntactic flow of words, and allows readers to pay attention to the explanation.
Bracket effect
Provides extra information, interrupts the syntactic flow of words, and allows readers to pay attention to the explanation.
Brace effect
Mostly used in poetry, it is when a writer presents or creates a list of equal choices for a reader or in a number set.
Elipsis effect
It adds a long pause and creates tension. The ellipsis may also be used at the end of an incomplete sentence, to indicate that there is more to come (or that the reader should put in their own completion.
Quotation marks effect
Around single words can occasionally be used for emphasis, but only when quoting a word or term someone else used. Usually, this implies that the author doesn’t agree with the use of the term.
Apostrophe effect
One reason is to highlight the importance of the idea or object. It also adds drama, evoking emotions from jubilation to sorrow. The effect of an apostrophe in poetry is to personify or bring to life something not living, so the poet is able to address it directly.
