Dashes, Parentheses, and Commas

Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

• If I knew everything--which I don't--then my grade would be so much higher.

• If I knew everything--which I don't then--my grade would be so much higher.

• If I knew everything which I don't--then my grade would be so much higher.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'If I knew everything--which I don't--then my grade would be so much higher.' The use of dashes here is to insert an additional thought or explanation (in this case, 'which I don't') into the sentence. This use of dashes is appropriate when the additional information is not crucial to the understanding of the sentence. The other sentences do not use the dashes correctly.

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• At the camp, each person had a knife, a fork, a spoon, a mug, and a few plates.

• At the camp each person had a knife, a fork, a spoon, a mug, and a few plates.

• At the camp each person had a knife, a fork, a spoon, a mug and a few plates.

• At the camp, each person had a knife a fork a spoon a mug and a few plates.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'At the camp, each person had a knife, a fork, a spoon, a mug, and a few plates.' This sentence correctly uses commas to separate items in a list as per English grammar rules. The other options either miss the comma after the introductory clause or do not use commas to separate items in the list.

Which sentence uses parentheses correctly?

• Peter the (biggest chimp) was not very helpful to Jane, but Sam was.

• Peter (the biggest chimp) was not very helpful to Jane, but Sam was.

• Peter the biggest chimp was not very helpful to Jane (but Sam was).

• Peter the biggest chimp was (not very helpful) to Jane, but Sam was.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence using parentheses is 'Peter (the biggest chimp) was not very helpful to Jane, but Sam was.' Parentheses are used to provide additional information that is not part of the main sentence, but can give more context or clarify meaning. In this sentence, 'the biggest chimp' is additional information about Peter.

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• Chimps like people sleep all night.

• Chimps, like people, sleep all night.

• Chimps like people, sleep, all night.

• Chimps like, people, sleep all night.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'Chimps, like people, sleep all night.' This sentence uses commas to set off the clause 'like people,' which provides additional but non-essential information. Without these commas, the sentence could be misinterpreted as stating that chimps like people who sleep all night.

Which sentence uses parentheses correctly?

• Jane had a favorite chimp David Greybeard.

• Jane had a favorite chimp (David Greybeard).

• Jane had a favorite chimp (David Greybeard.)

• Jane had a (favorite chimp) David Greybeard.

Answer explanation

The question asks for the correct use of parentheses. Parentheses are used to provide additional information within a sentence that can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. In this case, 'David Greybeard' is additional information about the 'chimp'. Thus, 'Jane had a favorite chimp (David Greybeard).' is the correct usage of parentheses.

Which of the following uses parentheses correctly?

• My worst (subject Math) is getting easier.

• My worst subject (Math) is getting easier.

• My worst subject Math (is getting easier).

Answer explanation

The proper use of parentheses in English is to provide additional information without disrupting the flow of the sentence. In the given question, the correct choice is 'My worst subject (Math) is getting easier.' Here, 'Math' is extra information about the 'worst subject'. The parentheses correctly isolate this information.

Which sentence uses the dash correctly?

• My sister is coming to visit soon--not soon enough!

• My sister-- is coming to visit soon not soon enough!

• My sister is coming to visit-- soon not soon enough!

Answer explanation

The correct usage of a dash in a sentence is to create a dramatic effect or to add additional information at the end of the sentence. Hence, the sentence 'My sister is coming to visit soon--not soon enough!' uses the dash correctly. It uses the dash to add an emphatic comment (not soon enough) to the sentence.

Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

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

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

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

Answer explanation

In the correct sentence, 'My little brother--who annoys everyone--will not be there tonight.', the dashes are used correctly to set off an independent clause ('who annoys everyone') that provides additional information about 'My little brother'. This use of dashes is consistent with standard English punctuation rules. The other sentences misuse dashes by either not closing off the independent clause or by incorrectly separating words that should stay together.

Which of the following uses parentheses correctly?

• All of my life (all 12 years) have been in Georgia.

• All of my life (all 12 years have) been in Georgia.

• All (of my life)12 years has been in Georgia.

Answer explanation

The correct use of parentheses is to include additional, non-essential information within a sentence. The correct sentence is 'All of my life (all 12 years) have been in Georgia.' because the phrase 'all 12 years' is an extra detail that gives more information about 'All of my life'. The parentheses are correctly placed around this additional information.

Which sentence contains the best use of dash?

• Mrs. Johnson--who is normally a very patient person--gets easily irritated when students do not listen.

• I went to school yesterday--I did awesome on the test!

• The gray skies--the huge clouds--this is what let us know that a storm was coming.

• The TV show--will make you laugh--even if you are in a bad mood.

Answer explanation

The best use of a dash is to set off extra information in a sentence, functioning like parentheses. The sentence 'Mrs. Johnson--who is normally a very patient person--gets easily irritated when students do not listen.' is a perfect example of this, where the clause framed by the dashes gives additional information about Mrs. Johnson.