Punctuation Definition Example Capital Letters The first word of a sentence begins with a capital letter. Proper nouns also start with a capital letter. The first word of direct speech starts with a capital letter. “Bill lives in Johannesburg.” They asked, “Can we leave early today? Full Stop ( . ) A full stop at…
Onomatopoeia is a sound device using a word that sounds like the thing it is describing. It echoes the real-life sound. The meaning of the word is the sound it tries to re-create. For example: In the above sentence, the word ‘slurped’ is an onomatopoeia, as the word sounds like the actual sound made. The…
Prefixes A prefix is something that is put before the word which changes its meaning or makes a new word. If you can understand the meaning of the prefix, you can often work out the meaning of the word. For example ab – means away from, e.g., absent. ante – means before, e.g., antenatal. anti – means opposite or against, e.g., anti-clockwise.…
Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelt differently and have a different meaning. The word homophone comes from the Greek words: homo, meaning ‘same’ and phone, meaning ‘sound’, i.e., words that sound the same. Examples of homophones: aloud allowed bored board break brake buy by great grate meat meet pale pail pain…
Synonyms and antonyms are used to avoid over-using words. They help to build vocabulary and broaden your understanding of the world. Synonyms Synonyms are words with a similar or the same meaning. The word ‘syn’ means ‘the same.Examples of synonyms: Word Synonym private secret lucky fortunate build construct quarrel argue Antonyms: are words that have…
“The most excellent ornament exornations , lights, flowers, and forms of speech, commonly called the figures of rhetoric. By which the singular parts of man’s mind, are most aptly expressed, and the sundry affections of his heart most effectually uttered.” (Henry Peacham, The Garden of Eloquence, 1593) A figure of speech is the use of…
What is the scientific method? It is a logical, systematic approach to solve a problem. What is always the first step of the scientific method? Identify the problem and make observation. What makes a good hypothesis? A good hypothesis is one that you can test. What is a control? Comparison with one or more experimental…
Run-on sentences occur when independent clauses are not joined properly. There are two types of run-on sentences: the fused sentence and the comma splice. ►Fused sentences occur when there is no punctuation and no coordinating conjunction between two independent clauses. The snow needs to be shovelled get going on it right away. ►Comma splices occur…
Utopias are generally said to be societies in which the political, social and economic troubles hampering its inhabitants has been done away with. Instead the state is there to serve the people and ensure the peacefulness and happiness of everyone. The word utopia, which means “no place” in Greek, was first used to mean a…
ALLEGORY, pronounced AL uh gawr ee, is a story with more than one meaning. Most allegories have moral or religious meanings. Famous allegories include the fables attributed to Aesop, an ancient Greek writer. Aesop’s fables seem to describe the adventures of animals and human beings. But the author actually wanted to teach his readers something…
Sentences should be grammatically balanced. Allows for clear and understandable words, phrases and clauses. Use similar grammatical structures to balance your writing. Incorrect: A student needs textbooks, notebooks and he needs pens. Correct: A student needs textbooks, notebooks and pens. Incorrect: A student who does well in exams attends class, reads the textbook and reviews…