Correct Use of Dashes Worksheet

Which sentence correctly shows the use of dashes?

• Call Mr. García he is principal—and get his opinion—on adding a new after-school club.

• Call Mr. García—he is the principal—and get his opinion on adding a new after-school club.

• Call Mr. García—he is the principal and get—his opinion on adding a new after-school club.

• Call Mr. García he is the principal—-and—get his opinion on adding a new after-school club.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

Which sentence shows correct use of dashes?

• For many, the idea that there are only eight planets in the solar system is not only—difficult to consider, but unthinkable.

• The International Astronomical Union could have changed the definition—of what a planet is—, which would have increased the number of planets in the solar system.

• Some people pointed out that perhaps the vote to declare Pluto a dwarf planet—should be considered suspicious—because fewer than five percent of the members had participated.

• Our concept of the solar system changed suddenly—though there had been rumblings for years—when the International Astronomical Union announced that Pluto was not really a planet, after all.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

Which sentence correctly shows the use of dashes?

• My best friend—who just moved to a new city—is coming to visit at the end of the month.

• My best friend who just moved to a new city—is coming to visit—at the end of the month.

• My best friend—who just moved to a new city is coming to visit—at the end of the month.

• My best friend who just moved to a new city is coming—to visit—at the end of the month.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

• The book that I am reading—a long but exciting story—is due back at the library next week.

• The book that I am reading, a long and exciting story, is due—back at the library—next week.

• The book—that I am reading—a long but exciting story, is due back at the library next week.

• The book that I am reading, a long—but exciting—story, is due back at the library next week.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

Read this sentence. Ocean View Avenue, the location of a John Steinbeck novel, was renamed Cannery Row by the city of Monterey, California. Which revision correctly shows the underlined words have been omitted?

• A. Ocean View Avenue . . . was renamed Cannery Row by the city of Monterey, California.

• B. Ocean View Avenue—was renamed Cannery Row by the city of Monterey, California.

• C. Ocean View Avenue was renamed Cannery Row by the city of Monterey, California.

• D. Ocean View Avenue: was renamed Cannery Row by the city of Monterey, California.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

Read this sentence from a book review. While the book, having sat unnoticed in bookstores for months before the holiday season, was read and enjoyed by few, the movie version was a huge hit. Which use of ellipses best preserves the purpose of the original sentence?

• While the book was read . . . before the holiday season, the movie version was a huge hit.

• While the book was read and enjoyed by few . . . the movie version was a huge hit.

• While the book was read and enjoyed by few . . . for months before the holiday season, the movie version was a huge hit.

• While the book was read and enjoyed by few, having been sitting unnoticed in bookstores for months before the holiday season . . .

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

Read the sentence. Our bus driver circled the block three times before he finally found a place to park. Which sentence correctly uses ellipses to replace the underlined words?

• Our bus driver, . . . finally found a place to park.

• Our bus driver, . , finally found a place to park.

• Our bus driver . . . ;finally found a place to park.

• Our bus driver . . . finally found a place to park.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

Read the sentence. Those two geese flew across six states and built a nest near the lake. Which sentence correctly uses punctuation to replace the underlined words?

• Those two geese; built a nest near the lake.

• Those two geese — built a nest near the lake.

• Those two geese . . . built a nest near the lake.

• Those two geese, — built a nest near the lake.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.8.2A

Which sentence uses ellipses correctly? (...)

• I don't think...we really shouldn't go in there!

• We...really shouldn't go in there!

• We really really shouldn't go in there.......

• We......really...shouldn't go in there I don't think.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

Choose the sentence that is correctly punctuated. 

• Before reaching the summit, the climbers were forced by a storm to turn back. 
• Before reaching the summit the climbers were forced by a storm to turn back. 
• Before reaching the summit, the climbers were, forced by a storm, to turn back. 
• Before reaching the summit the climbers were, forced by a storm, to turn back. 

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A