Commas, Dashes, and Parentheses

We sailed past two ore freighters a speedboat and several water-skiers when we ventured outside the harbor.

• NO CHANGE
• sailed, past two ore freighters, a speedboat, and several water-skiers,
• sailed past two ore freighters, a speedboat, and several water-skiers
• sailed past, two ore freighters, a speedboat and several water-skiers,

Our craft glided by the lighthouse--which has guided ships into the harbor for years.

• NO CHANGE
• glided, by the lighthouse--which has guided ships
• glided by, the lighthouse which has guided ships,
• glided by, the lighthouse, which has guided ships

Skill is needed, to sail a sloop on a windy day.

• NO CHANGE
• needed to sail a sloop, on
• needed to sail, a sloop on 
• needed to sail a sloop on

To monitor the weather most sailors carry a shortwave radio on board their boats.

• NO CHANGE
• weather, most sailors carry a shortwave radio on
• weather, most sailors carry, a shortwave radio on
• weather, most sailors carry a shortwave radio, on

Tipping over dangerously, close to the water, our sailboat became unstable.

• NO CHANGE
• over, dangerously close, to the water, our sailboat became
• over, dangerously close to the water, our sailboat became, 
• over dangerously close to the water, our sailboat became

In the well-stocked galley on our little boat I can prepare simple or elaborate meals while you sail.

• NO CHANGE
• boat, I can prepare simple, or elaborate, meals
• boat, I can prepare simple or elaborate meals
• boat, I can prepare simple or elaborate meals, 

You can move the mainsail to catch the breeze, or start the engine to take us back to port.

• NO CHANGE
• breeze or start
• breeze, or start,
• breeze or start,

The spinnaker sail is usually made of strong, elastic nylon.

• NO CHANGE
• usually, made of strong, elastic
• usually made of strong, elastic, 
• usually made of, strong elastic

After school we stopped at the library.

• NO CHANGE
• school, we stopped
• school we stopped,
• school, we stopped,

The security guard (who stands inside the bank) was a high school athlete.

• NO CHANGE
• guard--who stands inside the bank, was
• guard who stands inside the bank, was
• guard, who stands inside the bank, was,