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Worksheets

Dashes Hyphens and Ellipses

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following options uses proper punctuation?

a)

The blond-haired boy loved the beach--until he was stung by a jellyfish.

b)

The blond--haired boy loved the beach until he was stung by a jelly-fish.

c)

The blond haired boy loved the beach--until he was stung--by a jellyfish.

d)

The blond-haired boy loved the beach--until--he was stung by a jellyfish.

2.

Which of the following is equivalent to the phrase: "Coach Z--who guided his team to the championship--was given a contract extension."

a)

Coach Z.  Who guided his team to the championship.  Was given a contract extension.

b)

Coach Z (who guided his team to the championship) was given a contract extension.

c)

Coach Z: who guided his team to the championship; was given a contract extension.

d)

Coach Z-who guided his team to the championship-was given a contract extension.

3.

Choose the word that needs a hyphen in the following sentence: Mr. Jones is eighty three years old.

a)

Mr. Jones

b)

eighty-three

c)

eighty-three-years

d)

years-old

4.

Choose the word that needs a hyphen in the following sentence: That recipe calls for one fourth cup of flour.

a)

That-recipe

b)

for-one

c)

one-fourth

d)

one-fourth-cup

5.

Choose the word that needs a hyphen in the following sentence: Mrs. Lindsey likes to drink coffee in the afternoon for a pick me up. 

a)

to-drink-coffee

b)

in-the-afternoon

c)

after-noon

d)

pick-me-up

6.

What is used to divide words at the end of a line?

a)

dash

b)

comma

c)

ellipses

d)

hyphen

7.

Which alternative WOULD NOT be acceptable?

a)

The United Nations (which meets in New York City) is now in session.

b)

The United Nations--which meets in New York City--is now in session.

c)

Meeting in New York City, the United Nations is now in session.

d)

Now in session, The United Nations--is meeting, in New York City.

8.

Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

a)

My little brother-- who annoys everyone will not be there-- tonight.

b)

My little brother--who annoys everyone--will not be there tonight.

c)

My little--brother who annoys--everyone will not be there tonight.

9.

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

a)

period

b)

comma

c)

dash

d)

ellipsis

10.

Which sentence uses ellipses correctly to shorten the original?

a)

My Aunt Louise, a distant relative...is visiting this week.

b)

My Aunt Louise...is visiting this week.

c)

...My Aunt Louise, a distant relative of George Washington, is visiting this week.

d)

George Washington is visiting this week.

11.

What does the ellipsis the following sentence indicate?


"I couldn't help but noticing..." Mark's voice trailed off.

a)

Passage of time

b)

An unfinished thought

c)

Omitted text from a quotation

12.

Which of the following sentences uses a dash correctly?

a)

A) The teacher said--we will have a test tomorrow.

b)

B) The teacher said we will have a test--tomorrow.

c)

C) The teacher--said we will have a test tomorrow.

d)

D) The teacher said we--will have a test tomorrow.

13.

Identify the sentence that uses hyphens correctly.

a)

A) The well known author was signing books.

b)

B) The well-known author was signing books.

c)

C) The well known-author was signing books.

d)

D) The well-known-author was signing books.

14.

What is the purpose of an ellipsis in a sentence?

a)

A) To indicate a pause

b)

B) To show excitement

c)

C) To omit unnecessary words

d)

D) To connect two ideas

15.

Choose the sentence that uses ellipses correctly to indicate omitted text.

a)

A) She said...she would arrive by noon.

b)

B) She said she would...arrive by noon.

c)

C) She...said she would arrive by noon.

d)

D) She said she would arrive...by noon.