Mastering Punctuation: Dashes, Colons, Ellipses, and Hyphens

What is the function of a dash?

• Break a sentence into two more parts; prevents a run-on sentence

• Indicate an unfinished thought; stops the flow of a sentence.

• The speed at which Jovon runs on a track barefoot.

• • indicates a change in direction of a paragraph or story.

Tags

dash

What are the functions of a colon?

• To add conjunctions to a sentence

• To pause and think about life

• To list a set of items or explain

• • To stop the flow of a sentence

Tags

colon

Organize these functions into the right categories.

Groups:

(a) Dash

,

(b) Hyphen

,

(c) Colon

,

(d) Ellipsis

• Indicate an unfinished thought

• indicate a list

• separate hours and minutes

• explain

• Pause or a wait

• represent missing information

• indicate a break in thought

• introduce a quote

• Indicate an omission in a quote

• connect compound words

Tags

punctuation

dash

colon

hyphen

ellispis

Which sentence correctly uses a dash?

• I need to buy eggs, milk - and bread.

• My favorite activities - reading, hiking, and painting - keep me busy.

• It's time to eat - dinner is ready.

• She is going - to the store.

Select the sentence that correctly uses a colon.

• Before you leave: make sure to turn off the lights.

• She has three hobbies: painting, reading, and jogging.

• It was a long day at work: I'm exhausted.

• I have one goal: to finish this project.

Which sentence correctly uses ellipses?

• I don't know... what to do.

• So... what's your plan?

• Wait... I think I forgot my keys.

• All of the above.

Identify the sentence that correctly uses a hyphen.

• She is a well-known artist.

• The cake was super-delicious.

• I need to re-charge my phone.

• It's a three story building.

Which sentence correctly differentiates between a dash and a hyphen?

• I need to work on my thesis - it's due tomorrow.

• The 5-year-old boy was very energetic.

• The long-term effects are still unknown.

• B) and C) are correct.

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a colon to introduce a list.

• The grocery list includes: bread, milk, eggs, and cheese.

• Here are the ingredients I need to make a cake: flour, sugar, eggs.

• She said: "I'm going to the store."

• There are many reasons I love fall: the cool weather, the colorful leaves.

Select the sentence that correctly uses a hyphen in a compound adjective.

• The well dressed man was the CEO of the company.

• She wore a beautifully-designed dress to the party.

• The fast-running river was difficult to cross.

• The blue-green sea was calm today.