Dashes Hyphens and Ellipses

Which of the following options uses proper punctuation?

• The blond-haired boy loved the beach--until he was stung by a jellyfish.

• The blond--haired boy loved the beach until he was stung by a jelly-fish.

• The blond haired boy loved the beach--until he was stung--by a jellyfish.

• The blond-haired boy loved the beach--until--he was stung by a jellyfish.

Which of the following is equivalent to the phrase: "Coach Z--who guided his team to the championship--was given a contract extension."

• Coach Z.  Who guided his team to the championship.  Was given a contract extension.

• Coach Z (who guided his team to the championship) was given a contract extension.

• Coach Z: who guided his team to the championship; was given a contract extension.

• Coach Z-who guided his team to the championship-was given a contract extension.

Choose the word that needs a hyphen in the following sentence: Mr. Jones is eighty three years old.

• Mr. Jones

• eighty-three

• eighty-three-years

• years-old

Choose the word that needs a hyphen in the following sentence: That recipe calls for one fourth cup of flour.

• That-recipe

• for-one

• one-fourth

• one-fourth-cup

Choose the word that needs a hyphen in the following sentence: Mrs. Lindsey likes to drink coffee in the afternoon for a pick me up. 

• to-drink-coffee

• in-the-afternoon

• after-noon

• pick-me-up

What is used to divide words at the end of a line?

• dash

• comma

• ellipses

• hyphen

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 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.

A(n) _____ is a series of 3 dots      ( . . .) that is used when omitting a word, phrase, or line, from a quoted passage.

• period

• comma

• dash

• ellipsis

Which sentence uses ellipses correctly to shorten the original?

• My Aunt Louise, a distant relative...is visiting this week.

• My Aunt Louise...is visiting this week.

• ...My Aunt Louise, a distant relative of George Washington, is visiting this week.

• George Washington is visiting this week.