Funky Punctuation

Front

What is an ellipsis?

Back

An ellipsis is a series of three dots (...) used to indicate that something has been omitted or to show a pause in thought.

Front

How is an ellipsis used to show omission?

Back

An ellipsis can replace words in a quote to shorten it while maintaining the original meaning, e.g., 'Malcolm X once said, "Education is the passport to the future...tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today."'

Front

What is the purpose of a dash in writing?

Back

A dash is used to create emphasis, indicate a break in thought, or set off a phrase for dramatic effect.

Front

How do hyphens and dashes differ?

Back

Hyphens are used to connect words or parts of words (e.g., well-known), while dashes are longer and used for emphasis or interruption.

Front

Provide an example of a sentence using an ellipsis to show a pause in thought.

Back

"I was just thinking, hmmm...no that won't work."

Front

What is the correct way to use dashes in a sentence?

Back

Dashes should be used to separate and emphasize a phrase, e.g., "The nachos — a sloppy pile of burnt chips, orange cheese, and mystery meat — ruined my appetite."

Front

True or False: An ellipsis can be used at the end of a sentence to indicate that it is unfinished.

Back

True.

Front

What punctuation mark is used to indicate a sudden break in thought?

Back

A dash (—) is used to indicate a sudden break in thought.

Front

How can dashes enhance a sentence?

Back

Dashes can add drama or emphasis, making the sentence more engaging, e.g., "I need to put my amazing book down — no, it's impossible."

Front

What is the function of a hyphen?

Back

A hyphen is used to join two or more words together to form a compound word or to separate syllables of a single word.