Ellipses, Dashes, and Commas I

"The famous speech began with the powerful words, 'Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.'"

Which sentence demonstrates the most logical use of an ellipsis to indicate an omission in the sentence?

• A) "The famous speech began with the powerful words, 'Four score and seven years ago... conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.'"

• B) "The famous speech began with the powerful words, 'Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent... and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.'"

• "The famous speech began with the powerful words, '...our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.'"

• "The famous speech began with the powerful words, 'Four score... and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.'"

Answer explanation

A) "The famous speech began with the powerful words, 'Four score and seven years ago... conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.'"
❌ Incorrect: The ellipsis removes necessary context and changes the meaning of the sentence.

B) "The famous speech began with the powerful words, 'Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent... and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.'" ✅
✔ Correct: The ellipsis replaces a non-essential portion of the sentence while maintaining its original meaning.

C) "The famous speech began with the powerful words, '...our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.'"
❌ Incorrect: The ellipsis at the beginning suggests an omission from the very start, which alters the meaning.

D) "The famous speech began with the powerful words, 'Four score... and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.'"
❌ Incorrect: The omission removes key context and makes the sentence unclear.

Tags

SC.ELA.8.C.4.1.b

Read the sentence.

"She walked into the quiet library, found an empty seat, and opened her book."

Which sentence demonstrates the most logical use of a dash to indicate a pause or break?

• A) "She walked into the quiet—library, found an empty seat, and opened her book.

• B) "She walked into the quiet library, found an empty seat—and opened her book."

• C) "She walked into—the quiet library, found an empty seat, and opened her book."

• D) "She walked into the quiet library, found an—empty seat and opened her book."

Answer explanation

A) "She walked into the quiet --- library found an empty seat, and opened her book."
❌ Incorrect: The dash placement makes the sentence awkward and disrupts natural flow.

B) "She walked into the quiet library, found an empty seat—and opened her book." ✅
✔ Correct: The dash correctly signals a break before the final action for emphasis.

C) "She walked into—the quiet library, found an empty seat, and opened her book."
❌ Incorrect: The dash before "the quiet library" is unnecessary and unnatural.

D) "She walked into the quiet library, found an—empty seat and opened her book."
❌ Incorrect: The dash before "empty seat" does not serve a meaningful purpose.

Tags

SC. ELA.8.C.4.1.b

Select the phrase that best completes the sentence.

After the storm passed

• , the sky cleared and the birds began to sing.

• . The sky cleared, and the birds began to sing.

• - the sky cleared, and the birds began to sing.

• ... the sky cleared and the birds began to sing.

Answer explanation

A) ", the sky cleared and the birds began to sing." ✅
✔ Correct: The comma correctly indicates a pause after the introductory phrase.

B) ". The sky cleared, and the birds began to sing."
❌ Incorrect: Adding a period creates a sentence fragment rather than a correct continuation.

C) "- the sky cleared, and the birds began to sing."
❌ Incorrect: A dash is unnecessary here because there's no abrupt break or shift in thought.

D) "... the sky cleared and the birds began to sing."
❌ Incorrect: An ellipsis suggests an omission, which is not needed in this sentence.

Tags

SC.ELA.8.C.4.1.b

Select the phrase that best completes the sentence.

"I wasn’t sure if I should call her

• ... I knew she was busy

• - I knew she was busy.

• . I knew she was busy.

• , but I knew she was busy

Answer explanation

A) ... I knew she was busy
❌ Incorrect: An ellipsis suggests omitted words, which is not needed here. There is also no period.

B) - I knew she was busy.
❌ Incorrect: A dash is unnecessary, as there is no abrupt break.

C) . I knew she was busy.
❌ Incorrect: A period makes the first part a sentence fragment.

D) , but I knew she was busy.

✔ Correct: The comma and conjunction create a proper compound sentence.

Tags

SC.ELA.8.C.4.1.b