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AQA GCSE English Language

Spelling, punctuation and grammar marks — AQA GCSE English Language revision

Free revision notes, key terms, common exam traps and 5 practice questions with answers. About 3 minutes to read.

Quick wins

  • Use a full range of punctuation accurately — accuracy matters more than variety alone.
  • Semicolon joins two full sentences; colon introduces an explanation or list.
  • Apostrophes: possession (the dog's lead) or omission (don't) — never for plurals.

Common errors to hunt for

  • Comma splices: two sentences joined only by a comma.
  • Their / there / they're and your / you're.
  • Inconsistent tense partway through a piece.

Key terms

Comma splice
Incorrectly joining two full sentences with a comma.
Clause
A group of words containing a verb; main clauses can stand alone.
Discourse marker
A word or phrase that signposts the direction of writing.
Subordinate clause
A clause that cannot stand alone and adds extra information to a main clause.
Apostrophe of possession
Shows ownership, e.g. 'the dog's lead' (singular) vs 'the dogs' leads' (plural).
Homophone
Words that sound the same but have different meanings/spellings, e.g. 'their/there/they're'.

Common exam traps

  • Using a semicolon where a comma is needed.
  • Adding apostrophes to plurals (banana's).
  • Never proofreading — most lost marks here are avoidable.

Practice questions with answers

  1. 1. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • • It was late, we went home.
    • • It was late; we went home.
    • • It was late we went home.
    • • It was late: we, went home.

    Answer: It was late; we went home.

    A semicolon can join two complete sentences.

  2. 2. What is a comma splice?

    Answer: Joining two complete sentences with only a comma.

    Fix with a full stop, semicolon or conjunction.

  3. 3. Choose the correct word: 'The dogs wagged ___ tails.'

    • • there
    • • their
    • • they're
    • • thier

    Answer: their

    'Their' shows possession.

  4. 4. Give one job of a colon.

    Answer: To introduce an explanation or a list.

    The part before a colon should be a full sentence.

  5. 5. Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

    • • The dog ran, it barked loudly.
    • • The dog ran; it barked loudly.
    • • The dog ran it barked, loudly.
    • • The dog, ran it barked loudly.

    Answer: The dog ran; it barked loudly.

    A semicolon correctly joins two related independent clauses without a conjunction, avoiding a comma splice.

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