Punctuation
Refer to The Student Guide to Literacy for further guidance
Indicates that a sentence
has finished
Writing Checklist
Full stop
(p.30)
.
Comma
(p.30-32)
,
Indicates a slight pause in
a sentence, separates
clauses in a complex
sentence and items in a
list
Question mark
(p.35)
?
Ends a question sentence
Exclamation mark
(p.34)
!
Goes at the end of a
dramatic sentence to
show surprise or shock
Apostrophe
(p.36-38)
‘
Shows that letter(s) have
been left out or indicates
possession
Inverted commas
/
speech marks
(p.32-34)
“”
Show quotation
Colon
(p.39)
:
Introduces a list, a
statement or a quote in a
sentence
Semicolon
(p.40)
;
Separates two sentences
that are related and of
equal importance
Dash/hyphen
(p.41)
-
Separates extra
information from the
main clause by holding
words apart

Brackets
(p.41)
()
Can be used like dashes,
they separate off extra
information from the
main clause

Ellipsis
(p.42)
…
To show a passage of
time, to hook the reader
in and create suspense
Commonly Misspelled Words
across
argument
basically
beginning
business
completely
definitely
disappear
embarrass
environment
friend
government
independent
knowledge
necessary


occurred
unfortunately
occasion
until
politician
wherever
propaganda
publicly
really
religious
remember
sense
separate
successful
surprise
tomorrow
tongue
truly
Connectives
because
but
although
then
however
next
since
therefore
also
despite
furthermore
whereas
Have I
checked
my work?
Purpose:
•
Why am I writing this?
•
What do I want this piece of writing to
achieve?
Audience:
•
Who am I writing this for?
•
Who is likely to read it?
Language:
• What range of words and type of
sentences would be appropriate for my
purpose and audience?
Layout:
•
What will this piece of writing look
like?
•
Is the format appropriate for my
purpose and audience?
so
afterwards
as long as
consequently as
for example
well as
such as
for example
so far
what is more
apart from
firstly
meanwhile
secondly
in addition
thirdly
in contrast
on the other
moreover
hand
as a result of this alternatively
nevertheless
Homophones
 there: I’d love to go there.
their: Is that their cat?
they’re (they are): They’re here.
 to: I’m going to work.
too: Are you coming too?
two: I have two hands.
 your: What’s your name?
you’re (you are): You’re welcome.
 new: She has a new phone.
knew: I already knew that.
 right: Is that right?
write: Can you write that down?
 which: Which colour do you like?
witch: She was a wicked witch.
 peace: I wish for peace on Earth.
piece: Do you want a piece of pie?
 rain: It’s pouring with rain.
rein: I led the horse by the reins.
reign: The King’s reign ended.
 where: Where are you going?
wear: What should I wear?
 for: Is that present for me?
four: I’ll take four of these.
Punctuation
Refer to The Student Guide to Literacy for further guidance
Full stop
(p.30)
.
Indicates that a sentence
has finished
Comma
(p.30-32)
,
Indicates a slight pause in a
sentence, separates
clauses in a complex
sentence and items in a list
Question mark
(p.35)
?
Ends a question sentence
Exclamation
mark
(p.34)
!
Goes at the end of a
dramatic sentence to show
surprise or shock
Apostrophe
(p.36-38)
‘
Shows that letter(s) have
been left out or indicates
possession
Inverted commas
/
Speech marks
(p.32-34)
“”
Show quotation
Colon
(p.39)
:
Introduces a list, a
statement or a quote in a
sentence
Semicolon
(p.40)
;
Separates two sentences
that are related and of
equal importance
Dash/hyphen
(p.41)
-
Separates extra
information from the main
clause by holding words
apart
Brackets
(p.41)
()
Can be used like dashes,
they separate off extra
information from the main
clause
Ellipsis
(p.42)
…
To show a passage of time,
to hook the reader in and
create suspense
Connectives
Writing Checklist
Commonly Misspelled Words
across
argument
basically
beginning
business
completely
definitely
disappear
embarrass
environment
friend
government
independent
knowledge
necessary
occurred
occasion
politician
propaganda
publicly
really
religious
Have I
checked
my work?
remember
sense
separate
successful
surprise
tomorrow
tongue
truly
unfortunately
until
wherever
Besides
Further
Furthermore
Moreover
In addition
Equally
important
Afterward
Finally
Subsequently
Thereafter
Ultimately
Presently
To illustrate
For instance
To be specific
Such as
In the same manner
Similarly
To this end
In contrast
For this purpose
Conversely
Nevertheless For this reason
Nonetheless
On the contrary
First, second (etc.)
Hence
From here on
To begin with
Gradually
In summary
To sum up
Briefly
Therefore
In conclusion
 Have I used PALL?
 Is my spelling correct?
 Have I proof-read my work?
Homophones
 there: I’d love to go there.
their: Is that their cat?
they’re (they are): They’re here.
 to: I’m going to work.
too: Are you coming too?
two: I have two hands.
 your: What’s your name?
you’re (you are): You’re welcome.
 new: She has a new phone.
knew: I already knew that.
 right: Is that right?
write: Can you write that down?
 which: Which colour do you like?
witch: She was a wicked witch.
 peace: I wish for peace on Earth.
piece: Do you want a piece of pie?
 rain: It’s pouring with rain.
rein: I led the horse by the reins.
reign: The King’s reign ended.
 where: Where are you going?
wear: What should I wear?
 for: Is that present for me?
four: I’ll take four of these.