Year 5 English: Avoiding ambiguity and proof-reading
Part of the Year 5 English writing non-fiction, cohesion and layout chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Avoiding ambiguity and proof-reading
Key ideas
- Ambiguity: a sentence can be read in more than one way.
- Fix ambiguity by moving words, adding words, or using a comma.
- Proof-reading: check each sentence for spelling, capitals, full stops and commas.
- Read the text aloud, or slowly in your head, and mark each error.
Method. Find where the reader could be confused.
- Read the first. Is the bag with the kids, or are the kids going to school with you?confused
- Read the second. The second makes it clear who brings the bag and why.clear
- Write the answer. Please bring the bag with you to school for the kids
Check. The second is clearer. ✓
Method. Use the rule i before e, except after c.
- Check the rule. After c, the letters are ei.after c
- Correct. The correct spelling is received.received
- Write the answer. recieved should be received
Check. Received. ✓
Method. Check whether the apostrophe is needed.
- Check. It's is short for it is.it is
- Choose. It's raining.It's
- Write the answer. It's raining
Check. It's raining. ✓
Exercise 12D Practice: ambiguity and proof-reading
Method. Put the phrase next to the person it describes.
- Find the choice. Is the girl with a telescope, or is Nell?two readings
- Clarify. Nell, with a telescope, saw the girl.Nell, with a telescope
- Write the answer. Nell, with a telescope, saw the girl.
Check. Nell has the telescope. ✓
Method. Say the word in parts.
- Say it. def-i-nite-ly.def-i-nite
- Write it. Definitely.definitely
- Write the answer. definitely
Check. Definitely. ✓
Method. It's means it is.
- Check. It is a sunny day.it is
- Correct. It's a sunny day.It's
- Write the answer. It's a sunny day.
Check. It's a sunny day. ✓
Method. Put commas between items in a list.
- Find the items. Apples, pears and plums.three items
- Add commas. A comma after apples and after pears.apples, pears
- Write the answer. We packed apples, pears and plums.
Check. We packed apples, pears and plums. ✓
Method. A comma goes before the closing inverted commas.
- Find the mark. The comma is missing.comma
- Add it. "Come here," said Mum.Come here,
- Write the answer. "Come here," said Mum.
Check. "Come here," said Mum. ✓
Method. One c and two s letters.
- Say it in parts. ne-ces-sa-ry.ne-ces-sa-ry
- Write it. Necessary.necessary
- Write the answer. necessary
Check. Necessary. ✓
Method. Name the person who was wrong.
- Find the choice. He could be the teacher or the boy.two readings
- Clarify. The teacher told the boy that the boy was wrong.the boy was wrong
- Write the answer. The teacher told the boy that the boy was wrong.
Check. The boy was wrong. ✓
Method. Two c letters and two m letters.
- Say it in parts. ac-com-mo-date.ac-com-mo-date
- Write it. Accommodate.accommodate
- Write the answer. accommodate
Check. Accommodate. ✓
Method. A question takes a question mark inside.
- Find the words. What time is lunch is a question.question
- Punctuate. Question mark inside the inverted commas."What time is lunch?" asked Ruby.
- Write the answer. "What time is lunch?" asked Ruby.
Check. "What time is lunch?" asked Ruby. ✓
Method. Days and first words take capital letters.
- Find the errors. On starts the sentence; Monday is a day.capitals
- Correct. On Monday we went to the zoo.On Monday
- Write the answer. On Monday we went to the zoo.
Check. On Monday we went to the zoo. ✓
Method. Check each word against a spelling rule or the dictionary.
- Error 1. acros should be across.across
- Error 2. feild should be field.field
- Write the answer. acros should be across; feild should be field
Check. Both errors are found. ✓
Method. Think about the two possible readings.
- Look at the two meanings. Eat Grandma, or talk to Grandma.two meanings
- Look at the comma. The comma shows the second meaning.second meaning
- Write the answer. the comma shows Grandma is spoken to, so the sentence cannot mean eating Grandma
Check. The comma removes ambiguity. ✓