Commas, Ellipses and Dashes

Front

What is a comma?

Back

A punctuation mark (,) used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence or to separate items in a list.

Front

When should you use a comma before a conjunction?

Back

Use a comma before a conjunction (like 'and', 'but', 'or') when it connects two independent clauses.

Front

What is an ellipsis?

Back

An ellipsis (...) is a series of three dots used to indicate the omission of words or a pause in speech.

Front

How do you use ellipses in dialogue?

Back

Ellipses can be used in dialogue to show that a speaker has trailed off or left something unsaid.

Front

What is a dash?

Back

A dash (—) is a punctuation mark used to create a strong break in the structure of a sentence.

Front

When should you use a dash instead of a comma?

Back

Use a dash to add emphasis or to set off information that is not essential to the main point of the sentence.

Front

What is the difference between a dash and a hyphen?

Back

A dash (—) is longer and used to create breaks in sentences, while a hyphen (-) is shorter and used to connect words or parts of words.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with an ellipsis?

Back

An ellipsis can be placed at the end of a sentence to indicate that it is incomplete or that something has been omitted.

Front

What is the purpose of using commas in a list?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list to clarify the individual elements.

Front

How do you use commas with introductory phrases?

Back

Use a comma after an introductory phrase to separate it from the main clause.