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

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

• period
• comma
• dash
• ellipsis

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

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

• comma
• dash
• ellipsis
• semicolon

A(n) ____ is used to emphasize the separation of ideas or lists OR to explain, summarize, or illustrate a thought.

• question mark
• ellipsis
• dash
• comma

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

• comma
• dash
• colon
• ellipsis

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

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 — 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.

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)

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