Quiz for Lessons 426 - 430 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Dashes

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Dashes are used to give emphasis to written ideas and are typed by using two hyphens. They should be used sparingly.

Instructions: Use dashes where they are needed in the following sentences.

1. I I I don't know what you mean!

2. We need to paint everything the window frames, the doors, the walls.

3. Next week how I dread it! I have to go to court.

4. You know the man across the street you are not even listening to me.

5. The dishes, the windows, the tile they were all broken by the storm.

6. They fished in the lower river a waste of time!

7. We had many things to do for the trip buy tickets, get passports, pack, arrange for the animals.

8. We we we shouldn't be in this warehouse.

9. This movie what a thriller! was the best I have seen recently.

10. Have you met my wife my best friend and eternal companion?

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. I--I--I don't know what you mean!

2. We need to paint everything--the window frames, the doors, the walls.

3. Next week--how I dread it!--I have to go to court.

4. You know the man across the street--you are not even listening to me.

5. The dishes, the windows, the tile--they were all broken by the storm.

6. They fished in the lower river--a waste of time!

7. We had many things to do for the trip--buy tickets, get passports, pack, arrange for the animals.

8. We--we--we shouldn't be in this warehouse.

9. This movie--what a thriller!--was the best I have seen recently.

10. Have you met my wife--my best friend and eternal companion?

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Lesson 427 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Dashes

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Dashes are used to give emphasis to written ideas and are typed by using two hyphens. They should be used sparingly.

Use dashes to emphasize parenthetical material. 

 

Example: 

Tomorrow--how I fear it!--is the big test.

Instructions: Use dashes where they are needed in the following sentences.

1. All the presentations especially the one by Emily were excellent.

2. I leave I am so excited! for school today.

3. That game what an exciting one it was! is one that we will long remember.

4. There are several persons including myself, incidentally who resent your implications.

5. We approached the dog what a monstrous creature he was! with caution.

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Answers:

1. All the presentations--especially the one by Emily--were excellent.

2. I leave--I am so excited!--for school today.

3. That game--what an exciting one it was!--is one that we will long remember.

4. There are several persons--including myself, incidentally--who resent your implications.

5. We approached the dog--what a monstrous creature he was!--with caution.

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Quiz for Lessons 351 - 355 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Commas

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Instructions: Place commas where they are needed.

1. Ila indeed is a good mother.

2. I hope Jennie that you don't go to jail.

3. My son-in-law Chris will be able to vote in the coming election.

4. Oh Gail I hope that you on the other hand will be happy with your decision your move to Europe.

5. We sat in the shade beneath a broad green tree Irene.

6. It was a lovely happy memorable time.

7. I know after all you will be successful.

8. Mr. Allen Rudy the boy next door has been fighting with your brother Richard.

9. Of course we could hear immediately that you after all will be going to Santos a great city in Brazil.

10. Well Will I hope to see you by the way in Manaus on our return from our vacation a trip to Australia.

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Answers:

1. Ila, indeed, is a good mother.

2. I hope, Jennie, that you don't go to jail.

3. My son-in-law Chris will be able to vote in the coming election. (closely related appositive) 

- or -

My son-in-law, Chris, will be able to vote in the coming election. (noun of address)

4. Oh, Gail, I hope that you, on the other hand, will be happy with your decision, your move to Europe.

5. We sat in the shade beneath a broad green tree, Irene.

6. It was a lovely, happy, memorable time.

7. I know, after all, you will be successful.

8. Mr. Allen, Rudy, the boy next door, has been fighting with your brother Richard. (Richard is a closely related appositive)

9. Of course, we could hear immediately that you, after all, will be going to Santos, a great city in Brazil.

10. Well, Will, I hope to see you, by the way, in Manaus on our return from our vacation, a trip to Australia.

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Lesson 355 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Commas

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Use commas to set off parenthetical expressions. Parenthetical expressions are words inserted in the main sentence but not necessary to the meaning. They interrupt the flow of the sentence. Common expressions used parenthetically are however, of course, on the other hand, in fact, for example, that is, by the way, after all, perhaps, indeed, also, too, nevertheless. These expressions are not always parenthetical. 

 

Examples: 

Lucy, on the other hand, reads little. 

He knows, perhaps, five answers to the questions.

Instructions: Place commas where they are needed.

1. The story that I just told you by the way is true.

2. My plan nevertheless was followed and succeeded.

3. Your plan on the other hand was rejected for good reasons.

4. I might suggest for example that you make some revisions.

5. You in fact should be moved to a different department.

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Answers:

1. The story that I just told you, by the way, is true.

2. My plan, nevertheless, was followed and succeeded.

3. Your plan, on the other hand, was rejected for good reasons.

4. I might suggest, for example, that you make some revisions.

5. You, in fact, should be moved to a different department.

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