THE DASH 1 Use a dash to show
- Slides: 10
THE DASH
1) Use a dash to show a break in speech.
1) Use a dash to show a break in speech. Example: “I--I can’t do it!” exclaimed the girl. “I can’t--!” exclaimed the girl.
2) Use a dash to emphasize important information that abruptly interrupts a sentence.
2) Use a dash to emphasize important information that abruptly interrupts a sentence. Example: The crowd marveled as the circus performer-using one finger--lifted fifty pounds.
3) Use a dash to signal a change in thought (or to signal an unfinished thought).
3) Use a dash to signal a change in thought (or to signal an unfinished thought). Example: The winner of today’s baseball game-assuming we aren’t rained out--will play in the regional semifinals. The appetizers--supposedly the restaurant’s specialty-left us disappointed.
4) Use a dash to set off a long explanatory statement that interrupts the main thought of a sentence.
4) Use a dash to set off a long explanatory statement that interrupts the main thought of a sentence. Example: They desperately searched everywhere-under the seats, in the aisle, in the lobby--trying to find their car keys.
Remember: There are FOUR main uses for dashes. 1) Use a dash to show a break in speech. ) Use a dash to emphasize important information that abruptly interrupts a sentence. 3) Use a dash to signal a change in thought (or to signal an unfinished thought). 4) Use a dash to set off a long explanatory statement that interrupts the main thought of a sentence.