Commas, Dashes, and Ellipses

Front

What is the purpose of commas in a sentence?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list, to set off introductory elements, and to separate independent clauses when joined by conjunctions.

Front

What punctuation mark indicates a pause or break in thought?

Back

Dashes are used to indicate a pause or break in thought, often to add emphasis or additional information.

Front

What does an ellipsis (...) signify in writing?

Back

An ellipsis signifies an unfinished thought, a pause, or missing words from a quotation.

Front

When should you use a comma before a conjunction?

Back

A comma should be used before a conjunction (like 'and' or 'but') when it connects two independent clauses.

Front

What punctuation mark is used to show interruption in dialogue?

Back

Dashes are used to show interruption in dialogue.

Front

How do you use ellipses to indicate omitted text?

Back

Ellipses can be used to indicate that text has been omitted from a quotation.

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

What punctuation should be used to separate items in a series?

Back

Commas should be used to separate items in a series.

Front

When is it appropriate to use ellipses in writing?

Back

Ellipses are appropriate to use when indicating a pause, an unfinished thought, or omitted text.

Front

What punctuation mark can be used to add emphasis to a statement?

Back

Dashes can be used to add emphasis to a statement.