Dashes and Parentheses

Our craft glided by the lighthouse--which has guided ships into the harbor for years.

• NO CHANGE

• glided, by the lighthouse--which has guided ships

• glided by, the lighthouse which has guided ships,

• glided by, the lighthouse, which has guided ships

Which alternative WOULD NOT be acceptable?

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

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

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

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

Which type of punctuation should go in the blanks?

When the car was finally delivered _ nearly three months after she ordered it _ she decided she no longer wanted it.

• commas

• dashes

• parentheses

Which type of punctuation should go in the blanks?

My dad _ who beat cancer a few years ago _ is a successful lawyer.

• commas

• dashes

• parentheses

Choose the sentence that is correctly punctuated.

• Sara (who started playing tennis last year) won the championship.

• Sara... who started playing tennis last year... won the championship.

• Sara; who started playing tennis last year; on the championship.

• Sara—who started playing tennis last year—won the championship.

Hollow-horned animals—oxen, sheep, antelope, belong to the family of bovidae.

• No change

• animals, oxen, sheep, antelope, belong

• animals—oxen, sheep, antelope—

• –animals oxen, sheep, antelope—

Choose the best punctuation for this sentence:

Dr. Jonas Salk 1914-1995 discovered a cure for polio.

• Salk 1914-1995, discovered

• Salk, (1914-1995), discovered

• Salk (1914-1995) discovered

• Salk - 1914-1995 - discovered

His handwriting it resembled my mother’s was almost indecipherable.

• No change

• handwriting it—resembled my mother’s—

• handwriting—it resembled my mother’s)

• handwriting—it resembled my mother’s—

Which sentences are punctuated correctly? Check all that apply.

• LeBron James, one of the Cavaliers best basketball players, was recruited right out of high school.

• Upon discovering the errors - all 28 of them - Charlie thought he should rewrite his paper.

• I always buy my mom a gift on her birthday (October 10).

• Gizmo, my pet Chihuahua - barks whenever someone pulls into our drive.

Which sentences are NOT punctuated correctly? Check all that apply.

• (On April 17) Joe completed his assignment.

• The dogs two, golden retrievers, played catch with my brother.

• Alison - the smartest girl in my class - won the spelling bee.

• My grandmother (walked to the store) on warm afternoons.