How to Improve Phrasing
Phrasing is how you use your voice to group words together.
How to read with proper phrasing:
• Use correct rhythm and meter by not reading too fast or too slow.
• Pause for key words within the text.
• Make sure your sentences have proper flow and meter, so they sound smooth instead of choppy.
• Make sure you sound like you are reading a sentence instead of a list.
• Use punctuation to tell you when to stop, pause, or emphasize. (see box below)
| Punctuation | How to Use It |
|---|---|
| . period | stop at the end of the sentence |
| , comma | pause within the sentence |
| ! exclamation point | emphasize the sentence and pause at the end |
| ? question mark | emphasize the end of the sentence and pause at the end |
| ; semicolon | pause within the sentence between two related thoughts |
| : colon | pause within the sentence before giving an example or explanation |
One way to practice phrasing is to copy a passage, then place a slash (/), or pause mark, within a sentence where there should be a pause. One slash (/) means a short pause. Two slashes (//) mean a longer pause, such as a pause at the end of a sentence.
Read aloud the passage below, pausing at each pause mark. Then try reading the passage again without any pauses. Compare how you sound each time.
There are many ways / to get involved in your school / and community. // Joining a club / or trying out for a sports team/ are a few of the options. // Volunteer work can also be very rewarding. // You can volunteer at community centers, / nursing homes, / or animal shelters. //
Use the rubric below to measure how well a reader uses phrasing while reading aloud. For phrasing passages, see Reading Fluency Practice, pp. 634–657.
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Reading is choppy. There are usually no pauses for punctuation. | Reading is mostly smooth. There are some pauses for punctuation. | Reading is very smooth. Punctuation is being used properly. |