Dashes and Parentheses
Learning Goals:
Understand and use dashes and parentheses to develop better fluency when writing.
Understand and use dashes and parentheses to develop better fluency when writing.
The Dash
Use a dash (–) or pair of dashes to set off words that interrupt the main thought of a sentence, or to show a sudden change of tone or thought. A dash can also be used in place of a colon to introduce information or an explanation.
Examples:
I won't bother you again – you must be sick of me by now – but please call me.
Outside, the sun was shining, the sky was blue – but inside my head, storm clouds were forming.
My school has the best hockey team in the city – the Jets.
Where Parentheses fit in
Uses dashes or parentheses to add non-essential information or asides. Use the occasionally in place of commas to set off non-restrictive words, phrases, or clauses, especially if there are already commas in the non-restrictive element.
Examples:
The excitement of the crowd – the waving of flags and honking of horns – took me by surprise.
I plan to study history (if I'm accepted) at Dalhousie.
Don't Trust Me? Listen to the Grammar Girl:
Grammar Girl: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-parentheses-commas.aspx
Activity:
In small groups, write a minimum of eight sentence paragraph where four of the sentences need dashes or parentheses – however, leave out the punctuation! Swap your paragraph with another group for them to insert the dashes and parentheses in the proper places.
Sources:
Language Power I. Toronto: Gage, 2003. Print.
Image: "Punctuation and Capitalization - Loyola Press." LOYOLA PRESS A Jesuit Ministry : Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2012. <http://www.loyolapress.com/punctuation-and-capitalization.htm>.
Use a dash (–) or pair of dashes to set off words that interrupt the main thought of a sentence, or to show a sudden change of tone or thought. A dash can also be used in place of a colon to introduce information or an explanation.
Examples:
I won't bother you again – you must be sick of me by now – but please call me.
Outside, the sun was shining, the sky was blue – but inside my head, storm clouds were forming.
My school has the best hockey team in the city – the Jets.
Where Parentheses fit in
Uses dashes or parentheses to add non-essential information or asides. Use the occasionally in place of commas to set off non-restrictive words, phrases, or clauses, especially if there are already commas in the non-restrictive element.
Examples:
The excitement of the crowd – the waving of flags and honking of horns – took me by surprise.
I plan to study history (if I'm accepted) at Dalhousie.
Don't Trust Me? Listen to the Grammar Girl:
Grammar Girl: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-parentheses-commas.aspx
Activity:
In small groups, write a minimum of eight sentence paragraph where four of the sentences need dashes or parentheses – however, leave out the punctuation! Swap your paragraph with another group for them to insert the dashes and parentheses in the proper places.
Sources:
Language Power I. Toronto: Gage, 2003. Print.
Image: "Punctuation and Capitalization - Loyola Press." LOYOLA PRESS A Jesuit Ministry : Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2012. <http://www.loyolapress.com/punctuation-and-capitalization.htm>.