Lesson: Dashes & Ellipses

What punctuation is used to indicate an abrupt break in thought or speech according to the passage?

• Comma

• Parentheses

• Dash

• Ellipsis

Which of the following is an example of using a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought?

• The tomato, however, is actually a fruit, not a vegetable.

• Ms. Alanzo—she just left—will be one of the judges of the talent show.

• The outcome (which candidate would be elected governor?) was in the hands of the voters.

• Stephanie said, 'The stars... twinkle with an unusual glimmer tonight.'

What is the purpose of an ellipsis in a quoted passage?

• To indicate an abrupt break in thought

• To set off parenthetical elements

• To mark an omission or pause

• To end a sentence

According to the passage, how should an ellipsis be spaced when it appears in the middle of a sentence?

• No spaces before or after

• Space before but not after

• Space after but not before

• Space before and after

Which of the following sentences correctly uses an ellipsis to show an omission?

• Stephanie said, 'The stars... twinkle with an unusual glimmer tonight.'

• The tomato, however... is actually a fruit, not a vegetable.

• Ms. Alanzo—she just left... will be one of the judges of the talent show.

• The outcome (which candidate would be elected governor?)... was in the hands of the voters.

What are the three ways the ellipsis can be used?

• omission of words

• incomplete thought

• indicate a pause

• to indicate a request or a command

Identify what the ellipsis in the sentence

'Rachel trained . . . and trained . . . and trained.' indicates

• an omission of words from a quote or text

• a long pause or passage of time

• an unfinished thought

Identify what the ellipsis in the sentence

'The entire town of Paradise . . . was devastated by the wildfire.' indicates

• an omission of words from a quote or text

• a long pause or passage of time

• an unfinished thought

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 reviewer wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, beautifully performed . . ."

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

• A reviewer wrote that the musical was "dazzling . . . and had many outstanding special effects. . . ."

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

Which quotation uses an ellipsis correctly to indicate Olive's incomplete thought?

• "I can't stand . . . Olive?"

• "I can't stand that . . . girl."

• "I can't stand that girl . . ."

• "I can't stand that girl," Olive said. "She's so . . ."