Commas, Ellipses, & Dashes

Front

What is an ellipsis?

Back

An ellipsis is a series of three dots ( . . . ) used to indicate the omission of a word, phrase, or line from a quoted passage.

Front

How is a dash used in writing?

Back

A dash is used to signal an interruption in dialogue and to emphasize breaks in thought and shifts in tone.

Front

Provide an example of a sentence using dashes correctly.

Back

If you need something, call my assistant—Catherine, not Margaret—and she’ll help you.

Front

What does an ellipsis indicate in a sentence?

Back

An ellipsis indicates that something has been omitted from the text.

Front

What is the primary function of a dash?

Back

The primary function of a dash is to create a strong break in the structure of a sentence.

Front

Can an ellipsis be used at the end of a sentence?

Back

Yes, an ellipsis can be used at the end of a sentence to indicate that the thought is incomplete.

Front

What punctuation mark is used to emphasize a pause or break in thought?

Back

A dash is used to emphasize a pause or break in thought.

Front

What is the difference between a dash and a hyphen?

Back

A dash (—) is longer than a hyphen (-) and is used to create a break in thought, while a hyphen is used to connect words or parts of words.

Front

When should you use an ellipsis in dialogue?

Back

An ellipsis should be used in dialogue to indicate that a speaker has trailed off or omitted part of their speech.

Front

What is the correct way to punctuate a sentence with a dash?

Back

A dash can be placed before and after the inserted phrase, with no spaces on either side.