Commas, Ellipses, and Dashes: Pause and Omission

Hey there! Avery, Henry, and Mia are having a heated debate. Can you help them settle it? What's the real purpose of using commas in a sentence?

• To add emphasis to a word

• To confuse the reader

• To make the sentence longer

• To separate items in a list, set off introductory phrases, separate independent clauses, and clarify meaning.

Imagine Ava is writing a thrilling story about an adventure Henry and Oliver embarked on. At a crucial moment, she wants to add a dramatic pause, indicate a sudden change, or emphasize a piece of information. How should Ava use a dash in her writing?

• To indicate a pause in speech

• To separate independent clauses

• To indicate a sudden change in thought or tone, set off non-essential information, or emphasize information.

• To show possession

Hey there! Rohan was writing a mysterious story and used '...' a lot. What do you think it means in his story?

• An ellipsis indicates a quotation

• An ellipsis indicates a question mark

• An ellipsis indicates the end of a sentence

• An ellipsis indicates an omission of words, a pause, or a trailing off in thought.

Imagine Mason and Abigail are writing a fun story about their adventure in the park. How can they use commas to add a side note about Mia's hilarious reaction without interrupting the flow of their main story?

• By changing the font style of the side note

• By creating a pause and separating Mia's reaction from the main adventure tale.

• By underlining the side note about Mia

• By removing all punctuation marks from the story

Maya, Abigail, and Jackson are planning a big breakfast feast! They need to buy milk, eggs, and bread. In which of the following sentences is the dash used correctly to describe their shopping list? A) I need to buy milk, eggs, and bread - for breakfast. B) I need to buy milk, eggs, and bread for breakfast. C) I need to buy milk, eggs, and bread for breakfast - .

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

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

• A) I need to buy milk, eggs, and bread - for breakfast.

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

Imagine Evelyn, Anika, and Elijah are writing a mysterious story for their class project. They're debating how to make a sentence more intriguing with a pause. Which of the following sentences uses an ellipsis correctly to add that suspense? A) I am not sure...maybe we should go. B) I am not sure, maybe we should go. C) I am not sure maybe we should go...

• A) I am not sure...maybe we should go.

• B) I am not sure, maybe we should go.

• C) I am not sure maybe we should go...

• D) I am not sure...maybe we should go.

Alright, grammar enthusiasts! Imagine Harper and Grace are on a grammar quest, and they've stumbled upon a tricky challenge. They need to know: When should you use a comma before a coordinating conjunction?

• When the coordinating conjunction is connecting two independent clauses.

• When the coordinating conjunction is connecting two prepositional phrases.

• When the coordinating conjunction is connecting a noun and a verb.

• When the coordinating conjunction is connecting a dependent clause and an independent clause.

Imagine you're reading a thrilling story by candlelight, and just as the hero, played by Grace, is about to discover the secret door, the sentence trails off with an... How does this ellipsis keep you on the edge of your seat, eager for more?

• By wrapping everything up with a neat, little bow, leaving nothing to the imagination

• By popping up everywhere like popcorn, making you wish for a full stop or a comma

• By taking over the job of all other punctuation, leading to a maze of endless confusion

• By hinting at an untold story or a pause, making you, Abigail, and Isla lean in closer, whispering, 'What happens next?'

Imagine Henry, Michael, and Ethan are packing for a fun camping trip! They're debating how to list what they need to pack. Which of the following sentences uses commas correctly to separate items in a list? A) Henry says, 'I need to pack my toothbrush, toothpaste and pajamas.' B) Michael thinks it's, 'I need to pack my toothbrush, toothpaste, and pajamas.' C) Ethan is sure it's, 'I need to pack my toothbrush, toothpaste and, pajamas.'

• D) Ethan is sure it's, 'I need to pack my toothbrush, toothpaste and, pajamas'

• C) Michael thinks it's, 'I need to pack my toothbrush, toothpaste, and pajamas'

• B) Michael thinks it's, 'I need to pack my toothbrush, toothpaste, and pajamas.'

• A) Henry says, 'I need to pack my toothbrush, toothpaste, and, pajamas.'

Imagine Aria, Ava, and Olivia are writing a thrilling story about their adventure in a mysterious forest. Aria loves using commas, Ava is all about ellipses..., but Olivia is a fan of dashes - she thinks they add drama. How does Olivia's choice of punctuation, the dash, change the sentence compared to Aria's commas and Ava's ellipses?

• A dash creates no break in a sentence compared to a comma or ellipsis.

• A dash creates a softer break in a sentence compared to a comma or ellipsis.

• A dash creates a pause in a sentence compared to a comma or ellipsis.

• A dash creates a stronger break in a sentence compared to a comma or ellipsis.