What is enjambment and how can it affect meaning?

• A. Enjambment is a pause at the end of a line that slows pace
• B. It is the repetition of sounds at the ends of lines
• C. It is a deliberate mispunctuation to confuse the reader
• D. Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence beyond a line break, creating speed, suspense, or urgency

Answer: (D)

Enjambment is when a sentence or thought continues from one line into the next without a natural pause or full stop. This pushes the reader forward, creating momentum and a sense of speed or urgency as the meaning spills over into the next line. It can also shift emphasis, since the line break itself isn’t signaling a pause; the important word or idea often sits at the start of the following line and gains weight as the reader carries the thought forward. Because the syntax isn’t closed at the line end, enjambment can link ideas across lines, making connections that might feel more fluid or surprising than if the sentence were neatly ended.

This contrasts with end-stopped lines, where a line break coincides with a grammatical pause and a clearer stopping point. The other descriptions miss what enjambment actually does: a pause at the end implies a slowed pace, whereas enjambment tends to speed things up or heighten suspense by delaying completion of the thought. Repetition of sounds at line ends and deliberate mispunctuation aren’t the defining feature of enjambment either; they describe other devices or effects.