Commas, Ellipses, & Dashes

A reviewer wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, beautifully performed, and had many outstanding special effects."

Which of the following shows how the author could correctly use an ELLIPSIS to shorten the quote?

• A critic wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, and beautifully performed. . . ."

• A critic wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, . . . and beautifully performed."

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

A(n) _____ is a series of 3 dots ( . . .) that is used when omitting a word, phrase, or line, from a quoted passage.

• period

• comma

• ellipsis

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

An ellipsis is used to ___.

• shorten a quoted passage by omitting  words or phrases
• pause or hesitate in the middle of a sentence
• indicate an incomplete thought
• all answers are correct

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

A(n) _____ is used to signal an interruption in dialogue AND used to emphasize breaks in thought & shifts in tone.

• comma

• dash

• ellipsis

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

A(n) ___ is used to set off direct quotations OR to separate 2 or more adjectives

• comma

• dash

• ellipsis

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Which sentence uses DASHES correctly to explain a thought?

• If you need something, call my assistant Catherine — not Margaret and she’ll help you.

• If you need something, call my assistant—Catherine, not Margaret—and she’ll help you.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

Which sentence uses DASHES correctly to separate commas?

• All four of them—Bob — Jeffrey— Jason — Brett—did well in college.

• All four — of them Bob, Jeffrey, Jason, and Brett—did well in college.

• All four of them—Bob, Jeffrey, Jason, and Brett—did well in college.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

A comma is used to do all of the following except __. 

• to separate a subordinate clause from an independent clause at the start of a complex sentence
• to shorten a quoted passage by omitting words or phrases
• to separate items in a series or a list
• to combine 2 independent clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Which sentence uses a DASH correctly to emphasize breaks in thought & shifts in tone?

• I was glad to be home - until I saw the bill in the mailbox.

• I was glad - to be home until I saw the bill in the mailbox.

• I was glad to be home until I saw - the bill in the mailbox.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

Which line of dialogue is written correctly?

• "I have made up my mind." She said, nodding. "I do not want to marry him."

• "I have made up my mind," she said, nodding. "I do not want to marry him."

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.5.2D