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Hyphens & Dashes

English

KG - University

CCSS covered

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Hyphens & Dashes
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About

This quiz focuses on the proper usage of hyphens and dashes in English writing, covering both theoretical understanding and practical application. The content is appropriate for high school students, typically grades 9-12, as it requires sophisticated knowledge of punctuation rules and their contextual applications. Students need to understand the fundamental differences between hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes, including their varying lengths and specific functions. The core concepts include using hyphens in compound adjectives (like "Italian-American" and "2-liter bottles"), employing em dashes to set off parenthetical information or indicate interruptions in thought, and recognizing when en dashes are appropriate for ranges or connections. Students must demonstrate both recognition skills when identifying correct usage and application skills when determining which punctuation mark best serves a sentence's meaning and structure. This quiz was created by a classroom teacher who designed it for students studying advanced punctuation and grammar at the high school level. The assessment serves multiple instructional purposes, functioning effectively as a diagnostic tool to identify gaps in punctuation knowledge, a practice exercise for students learning these sophisticated writing conventions, or a formative assessment following direct instruction on dash and hyphen usage. Teachers can deploy this quiz as a warm-up activity before editing workshops, assign it as homework to reinforce classroom learning, or use it for review before standardized writing assessments. The varied question formats—from multiple choice identification to sentence correction—allow students to demonstrate both conceptual understanding and practical application skills. This quiz aligns with Common Core standards L.9-10.2 and L.11-12.2, which focus on demonstrating command of conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

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9 questions

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1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

What is the difference between a hyphen and a dash?

The length of a hyphen is shorter than the length of a dash.
Hyphens are typically used in compound adjectives, while dashes can be used to indicate an interruption, or a substitute for parentheses. 
There are two types of dashes (em and en) but there is only one type of hyphen.
All of the above.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.2A

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

Add the correct hyphen(s) or dash(es) to the below sentence: 
Mr. Lee suits the job he has more experience than everybody else in the department.

Mr. Lee suits the job he has more experience than everybody else - in the department.
Mr. Lee suits the job—he has more experience than everybody else in the department.
Mr. Lee suits the job he has more experience than everybody else — in the department.
Mr. Lee suits the job - he has more experience than everybody else in the department.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.2A

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

Add the correct hyphen(s) or dash(es) to the below sentence: 
There are fewer Italian American communities these days.

There are fewer Italian-American communities these days.
No change necessary.
There are fewer Italian—American communities these days.
There are fewer Italian —American communities these days

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.2A

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

Add the correct hyphen(s) or dash(es) to the below sentence: 
She has stopped buying 2 liter bottles and has started buying 0.5 liter bottles, instead.

No change necessary.
She has stopped buying 2—liter bottles and has started buying 0.5—liter bottles, instead.
She has stopped buying 2-liter bottles and has started buying 0.5-liter bottles, instead.
She has stopped buying 2 liter bottles and has started buying 0.5 liter bottles - instead.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.2A

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

Newburyport a small town in Massachusetts is the place she calls home.

Newburyport- a small town in Massachusetts- is the place she calls home.
Newburyport — small town in Massachusetts — is the place she calls home.
Newburyport —a small town in Massachusetts is the place she calls home.
Newburyport a small town in Massachusetts - is the place she calls home.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

He who shall not be named is coming up the stairs. 

He-who-shall-not-be-named is coming up the stairs. 
He — who — shall — not — be —named is coming up the stairs. 
He who shall not be named — is coming up the stairs. 
No change necessary.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

Nido a school with a great reputation follows a different schedule than other schools in Chile.

Nido—a school with a great reputation—follows a different schedule than other schools in Chile.
Nido a school with a great reputation, follows a different schedule than other schools in Chile.
Nido - a school with a great reputation - follows a different schedule than other schools in Chile.
Nido—a school with a great reputation — follows a different schedule than other schools in Chile.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

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