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Primary English · Year 5Chapter 7 · Brackets, dashes, commas and hyphens
Year 5 English · Brackets, dashes, commas and hyphens · Lesson 7.5

Year 5 English: Proof-reading a passage for punctuation

Part of the Year 5 English brackets, dashes, commas and hyphens chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

7.5

Proof-reading a passage for punctuation

Year 5
Use brackets, dashes, commas, hyphens and speech punctuation together (P5-1 to P5-4)
Story. Jo has written a short story about a lost dog. Before she hands it in, she reads it aloud, checking each mark. She finds a missing comma, a dash with no partner, and a pair of inverted commas that is not closed.

Key pattern

Read the passage slowly and check each mark: is it in a pair? Is it in the right place? Does the sentence still make sense?

Mark each error, then write the correct version.

Key ideas

  • Check that every pair of brackets, dashes or commas is complete.
  • Check that each new speaker has a new line.
  • Check that each hyphen gives the meaning you intend.
  • Read the passage aloud to hear where the punctuation is needed.
Worked example 7.5.1
Find the error in My dog (a brown one ran home.

Method. Check that the brackets are a pair.

  1. Find the opening bracket. There is an opening bracket before a brown one.
    opening
  2. Add the closing bracket. Add a closing bracket after one.
    My dog (a brown one) ran home.
  3. Write the answer.
    My dog (a brown one) ran home.

Check. The brackets are a pair. ✓

Worked example 7.5.2
Find the error in We saw a lot of fish, and a crab.? Is there a missing mark? Write Yes or No.

Method. Check the list punctuation.

  1. Read the sentence. The list has one comma and an and; the punctuation is right.
    right
  2. Decide. No mark is missing.
    No
  3. Write the answer.
    No

Check. No. ✓

Worked example 7.5.3
Correct the speech: "Come back" called Ali

Method. Look at the words and the tone.

  1. Find the words. Come back is a call.
    call
  2. Correct the mark. Use an exclamation mark inside the closing inverted commas.
    "Come back!" called Ali.
  3. Write the answer.
    "Come back!" called Ali.

Check. "Come back!" called Ali. ✓

Exercise 7E  Practice: proof-reading

1
FCorrect the dash pair: The team – the best in the league won the cup.
2
FCorrect the speech: "Where is the bus?" Ali asked. Is the punctuation right? Write Yes or No.
3
FCorrect the missing comma: "We will win" said Sam. Write the corrected sentence.
4
FCorrect the speech: "Get ready" shouted Mum
5
PSCorrect the hyphen: The class will re-sign the poster. (to sign again)
6
PSCorrect the comma: After the rain stopped we went outside. Write the corrected sentence.
7
PSCorrect the speech: Ben said "Hi". Write the sentence with the comma.
8
PSCorrect the brackets: The old tree (which is near the gate stands tall.
9
RWrite a short note to a friend that uses one pair of brackets, one pair of dashes and one comma for a list, all correctly.
10
RExplain why a comma is needed after the reporting clause in Mia said, "We can go now."

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