Punctuation
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Punctuation
This should probably be on the English forum, but I thought someone here might have seen the paper I'm talking about!
I have just recieved the CSSE past papers to have a look through. Question 5 in the English paper from 2011 (Captain Corelli's Mandolin) asks the children to write out a sentence, adding the correct missing punctuation.
Pelagia was amused by the situation not so the cat
The answer book suggests it should be
Pelagia was amused by the situation-not so the cat
...with a dash. When reading it through, I mentally used a semi-colon. Can someone explain why the dash is preferable? Would a semi-colon be marked wrong?
These English papers are really tough!
I have just recieved the CSSE past papers to have a look through. Question 5 in the English paper from 2011 (Captain Corelli's Mandolin) asks the children to write out a sentence, adding the correct missing punctuation.
Pelagia was amused by the situation not so the cat
The answer book suggests it should be
Pelagia was amused by the situation-not so the cat
...with a dash. When reading it through, I mentally used a semi-colon. Can someone explain why the dash is preferable? Would a semi-colon be marked wrong?
These English papers are really tough!
Re: Punctuation
Tsk, ignore my question! I have asked t'internet and now know the difference.
Re: Punctuation
Which is ?
Do you mind Teachermun to explain a bit as I would have thought the same way as you did initially and I can not find information in t'internet = Urban dictionary
... Thanks ! 
Do you mind Teachermun to explain a bit as I would have thought the same way as you did initially and I can not find information in t'internet = Urban dictionary
... Thanks ! Re: Punctuation
I thought that this was unreasonable for a 10 year old child; however, the rest of the punctuation was easy.
According to askoxford.com the dash should not be used in formal writing as it replaces a comma, semicolon or colon.
I tried this exact phrase out on my family. I would have used a comma, OH a colon and DC a dash.
Reading through Fowler I think that perhaps a preposition would have been necessary for a comma, but in reality I am not a lot wiser regarding this sentence. OH is fairly certain that a colon is correct.
Interestingly, there was no choice on the answer sheet.
Semicolons can be used to separate two related sentences. If you could put a fullstop in between then you can use a semicolon. The other use is to separate a list that already contains commas or is more complicated than usual.
My name is Janet; I am seven years old.
This website is handy:
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/englishB8.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
According to askoxford.com the dash should not be used in formal writing as it replaces a comma, semicolon or colon.
I tried this exact phrase out on my family. I would have used a comma, OH a colon and DC a dash.
Reading through Fowler I think that perhaps a preposition would have been necessary for a comma, but in reality I am not a lot wiser regarding this sentence. OH is fairly certain that a colon is correct.
Interestingly, there was no choice on the answer sheet.
Semicolons can be used to separate two related sentences. If you could put a fullstop in between then you can use a semicolon. The other use is to separate a list that already contains commas or is more complicated than usual.
My name is Janet; I am seven years old.
This website is handy:
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/englishB8.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Punctuation
Does anyone else agree with the answer to question 1. Am I the only one who thought that powerful should have been on the answer sheet?
Re: Punctuation
Ok. Thanks moved !
Maybe it is a daft thinking but in such cases, grey area where different punctations may seem plausible, is it possible that the mark would be attributed for a dash, a comma or a semi-colon, or would it be strictly only for a dash ?
Maybe it is a daft thinking but in such cases, grey area where different punctations may seem plausible, is it possible that the mark would be attributed for a dash, a comma or a semi-colon, or would it be strictly only for a dash ?
Re: Punctuation
The answer sheet had no flexibility. I wasn't taught punctuation at school really and have always found this hard work.
Re: Punctuation
Ouch ! That's harsh !
Specially in such cases where I have the feeling it is not only difficult but it could also be controversial...
Specially in such cases where I have the feeling it is not only difficult but it could also be controversial...
Re: Punctuation
I've started a thread on the English forum to see if there are any experts.
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muffinmonster
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Re: Punctuation
Presumably the sentence comes from Captain Corelli's Mandolin. If anyone has the patience to skim the book and track it down, you can find out what the editor did!
