Brackets and dashes for parenthesis

PROCEDURAL

English›Grammar & Punctuation|Ages 9—10|ID: mt_m3-eXac3aP

Use brackets, dashes, and commas to indicate parenthesis — additional information inserted into a sentence that could be removed without changing the sentence's core meaning

Mastery Evidence

Insert a parenthetical phrase using paired brackets, e.g. 'The oldest building (built in 1642) stands in the town square'
Use paired dashes to add an aside or extra detail within a sentence, e.g. 'My brother — who is older than me — lives in London'
Choose between brackets, dashes, and commas for parenthesis based on how much emphasis the aside should receive, recognising that dashes give most prominence and brackets give least

Assessment Prompt

“When [child] adds a little extra detail inside a sentence — like "The teacher, who is very strict, gave us homework" — do they correctly use brackets, dashes, or commas around that added bit?”

Curriculum Standards2 alignments

Eng.App2.Y5.Punc.1The national curriculum in England

Parenthesis

Brackets, dashes or commas to indicate parenthesis

English · Key Stage 2

Eng.UKS2.Write.VGP.2cThe national curriculum in England

Indicate parenthesis

Indicate grammatical and other features by using brackets, dashes or commas to indicate parenthesis.

English · Key Stage 2

Prerequisites2

Punctuating Direct Speech
softAges 7—10
Commas in lists
hardAges 6—11

Show full prerequisite tree

Punctuating Direct Speech soft
Direct speech punctuation introduces the concept of embedding one structure within another; parenthesis similarly embeds additional information
- Rehearsing and Varying Sentences soft
  Advanced spoken language skill builds on earlier speaking concepts
  - Writing Process Vocabulary soft
    Rehearsing sentences orally draws on 'compose', 'sentence', and 'vocabulary' as process vocabulary
  - Saying Sentences Before Writing Them hard
    Oral rehearsal with dialogue and varied structures builds on basic oral sentence composition
    - Describing Aloud soft
      Oral description supports oral rehearsal
      - Expressing & Justifying Opinions soft
        Oral expression skills support understanding formality in speech
      - Group discussions soft
        Conversational skills support oral description
        
        Listening and responding hard
        Listening and responding foundational to conversation
        
        Exploring Ideas Through Talk soft
        Conversational skills provide foundation for evaluating viewpoints
        
        Feeling of not understanding soft
        Using talk to explore ideas and speculate requires noticing what you don't yet understand — the comprehension-monitoring habit in a spoken register
        
        Asking for Help hard
        Noticing confusion and acting on it requires already knowing that asking for help is a valid response to being stuck
    - Building sentences hard
      Need to understand sentences for oral rehearsal
    - Writing Process Vocabulary hard
      Oral composition requires vocabulary like 'compose', 'sentence', and 'sequence' to participate meaningfully in the exercise
- Starting and Ending Sentences hard
  Direct speech punctuation requires secure sentence punctuation
  - Building sentences hard
    Must understand sentences before punctuating them
- Four Types of Sentences soft
  Understanding sentence types supports writing dialogue
  - Building sentences hard
    Must understand what a sentence is before learning sentence types
  - Starting and Ending Sentences hard
    Must know basic sentence punctuation before varying it by type
    - Building sentences hard
      Must understand sentences before punctuating them
Commas in lists hard
Parenthetical commas are a new comma use; learners need secure comma-in-lists knowledge before learning commas for parenthesis
- Building sentences soft
  Understanding sentences supports knowing where to place commas
- Starting and Ending Sentences hard
  Must know basic punctuation before learning comma usage
  - Building sentences hard
    Must understand sentences before punctuating them

Unlocks1

Advanced Punctuation for Clarity
hardAges 11—14