Punctuation can shape meaning and emphasis. A semicolon can set up a sharp contrast: “He was not old; he was simply tired.”
A colon can delay a surprising answer: “There was only one person who could help: her worst enemy.” A dash can build to a climax: “He had lost his job, his home, his friends – everything.”
An ellipsis marks words left out of a quotation: “I wandered … o'er vales and hills.” Use these marks deliberately in your writing for effect.
Worked example
Add punctuation to create suspense: “There was only one way out the river.”
- The first clause is complete.
- A colon delays and reveals the answer.
Answer:There was only one way out: the river.
Key words
- climax
- the most intense point
- balance
- two matching halves
- suspense
- anxious waiting
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: L.9-10.2a, L.9-10.2b