Commas are used in a series of three more items, to connect two or more clauses (dependent and independent, dependent and 2 independents, and two independents), to set off introductory elements, to set off parenthetical elements, to separate coordinate adjectives, to set off quoted elements, and with a city and its state or country, and dates.
Series: Cat, dog, and mouse
Connecting Clauses: I like to eat, but I need to start a diet.
Introductory Elements: Flying through the air, John saw what it was like to be a bird.
Parenthetical Elements: The Niger River, which is the longest river in Africa, is a water source for many people.
Coordinate Adjectives: The cameraman took a video of the swift, orange tiger.
Quoted Elements: Thomas said, "Watch out for the train!"
Dates: September 3, 2255
City: Philadelphia, Massachusetts.
Series: Cat, dog, and mouse
Connecting Clauses: I like to eat, but I need to start a diet.
Introductory Elements: Flying through the air, John saw what it was like to be a bird.
Parenthetical Elements: The Niger River, which is the longest river in Africa, is a water source for many people.
Coordinate Adjectives: The cameraman took a video of the swift, orange tiger.
Quoted Elements: Thomas said, "Watch out for the train!"
Dates: September 3, 2255
City: Philadelphia, Massachusetts.
Ellipses are the omission from a sentence or other construction of one or more words that would complete or clarify the construction. They are what makes up for a missing piece of text, or allows for a pause in writing. They are used in news writing, formal writing, and informal writing.
In general: I... don't like pie. My dad... was a great guy. And they all lived happily ever after... or did they?
News Writing: We've determined... this fire was accidental. The boy... was in safe custody. Journalists declare war... on ellipsis.
Formal Writing: The right of the people to be secure … against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…
I have a dream... that one day all white boys and girls...
Dear Uncle Bobo, I know it been a while, but a lot of stuff's happened... but I'm doing well.
Informal Writing: He was without hope… Desolate, empty… The epitome of a broken heart.
“I’m not sure what to do…” he stammered
The kid was smart... educated, wealthy... he was always at the top.
In general: I... don't like pie. My dad... was a great guy. And they all lived happily ever after... or did they?
News Writing: We've determined... this fire was accidental. The boy... was in safe custody. Journalists declare war... on ellipsis.
Formal Writing: The right of the people to be secure … against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…
I have a dream... that one day all white boys and girls...
Dear Uncle Bobo, I know it been a while, but a lot of stuff's happened... but I'm doing well.
Informal Writing: He was without hope… Desolate, empty… The epitome of a broken heart.
“I’m not sure what to do…” he stammered
The kid was smart... educated, wealthy... he was always at the top.
A dash is the mark or sign (—) used to note an abrupt break or pause in a sentence or hesitation in an utterance, to begin and end a parenthetic word, phrase, or clause, to indicate the omission of letters or words, to divide a line, to substitute for certain uses of the colon, and to separate any of various elements of a sentence or series of sentences, as a question from its answer.
Are used to show a break in words and pronunciation.
Examples: fifty-one, great-grandmother, twenty-one.
Are used to show a break in words and pronunciation.
Examples: fifty-one, great-grandmother, twenty-one.
Practice
Where do you insert the comma?
1. September 5 1804
2. Pie deer, and cake
3. Boston Massachusetts.
4. He yelled "where are you going?"
5. I want to go but I have too much homework.
What kind of use for ellipses is this?
1. I... had an emergency.
2. We the people... of the U.S
3. The boy was frightened of everything... lonely, sad... he never fit in.
4. President Roosevelt bans... Twinkies.
5. It's just that... I don't run that fast.
Where do you put the dash?
1. twenty one
2. great grandfather
3. fifty one
4. one half
5. one third
Where do you insert the comma?
1. September 5 1804
2. Pie deer, and cake
3. Boston Massachusetts.
4. He yelled "where are you going?"
5. I want to go but I have too much homework.
What kind of use for ellipses is this?
1. I... had an emergency.
2. We the people... of the U.S
3. The boy was frightened of everything... lonely, sad... he never fit in.
4. President Roosevelt bans... Twinkies.
5. It's just that... I don't run that fast.
Where do you put the dash?
1. twenty one
2. great grandfather
3. fifty one
4. one half
5. one third
between_5_and_1804.docx | |
File Size: | 12 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Test
Where do you put the comma?
1. When we went to the mall John bought 3 ice creams
2. December 21 1778
3. Cheese, ham and lettuce
4. "Where were you" asked Mrs. West.
5. I fell 3 floors.
What kind of ellipses use?
1. I... have a crush on someone
2. Hitler declares war... or does he?
3. No soldier... should be quartered in any house without owner consent
4. Nuke strikes Asia... or did it?
5. John... died of a heart attack.
Where to put the dash?
Where do you put the comma?
1. When we went to the mall John bought 3 ice creams
2. December 21 1778
3. Cheese, ham and lettuce
4. "Where were you" asked Mrs. West.
5. I fell 3 floors.
What kind of ellipses use?
1. I... have a crush on someone
2. Hitler declares war... or does he?
3. No soldier... should be quartered in any house without owner consent
4. Nuke strikes Asia... or did it?
5. John... died of a heart attack.
Where to put the dash?
- seventy two
- great uncle
- rocket propelled grenade
- Isaac
- twenty three
between_5_and_1804.docx | |
File Size: | 12 kb |
File Type: | docx |