USE OF DASH

The dash (------) is used to indicate an abrupt ideas, but should be used
sparingly. Excessive use of the dash usually indicates that the writer does not know
what punctuation mark to use.
There are times you may want to use the dash for visual effect or emphasis. A
glance at advertisements in a newspaper shows that copy writers make frequent use
of the dash. However, in business writing, such as letters, reports, minutes, and in
social correspondence, use the dash with caution.

1. The dash may be used to indicate a sudden change of thought in a sentence.

Ex. I was certain that the manager-----indeed, all of the office force-----wanted John to
receive the promotion.

2. The dash may be used to indicate a summarizing thought or an afterthought

added to the end of the sentence.

Ex. I shall make out an estimate, draw up a contact, send out a man to interpret it for
you----give you every help I can.

3. The dash may be used to set off a word or phrase repeated for emphasis.

Ex. We invited them for one meeting-----one meeting only-----not for the entire
convention!

4. The dash may be used between numbers or dates to indicate to and and.

Ex. His chapter covered from chapter 1860---1868

My appointment was scheduled from 12:15----1:15
 General Rules for Capitalization

Capitalize all of the following: speaks Russian. North, south, east, west ONLY if it indicates a
Proper nouns (names of people, places, and things) geographical region and NOT a
Don Hudson, Hunan Restaurant, direction; usually preceded by THE
Eiffel Tower Names of cities, states, Nancy loves the climate of the Northwest. The Civic Center lies south of
town.
provinces, and countries
Names of holidays
Vancouver, British Columbia,
Easter, Memorial Day, Halloween,
Canada
Thanksgiving with abbreviations, titles,
Names of specific oceans, rivers, mountains, lakes, etc.
streets
Pacific Ocean, Santa Fe River, Pyrenees Mountains, lake Ontario
I have an appointment with Dr.
Brand names
Lindsay today. Manuel lives at
Ford, Kleenex tissues, Sunbeam toaster
5120 Clover Rd.
the pronoun I
Days of the week, months, specific courses in school
Specific historical documents, political organizations
Friday, March, Anthropology 2022
The Constitution is the basis of our legal system.
All important words of a title (books, plays, songs, magazines, and
newspapers) Do not capitalize the following:
Capitalize a, an, the only if they are first word of title, and seasons unless they are part of a title
prepositions of five or more letters; don't underline the in I like summer best of all. The Long Hot Summer was a
newspaper titles great movie.
Call of the Wild, The Glass Menagerie, "You Are My
general areas of study except languages
Sunshine," the Washington Post
mathematics, history, geography
The first word of a quotation and the first word of a sentence
when personal titles are NOT followed by a name
James said, "Nobody will ever believe you."
aunt, uncle, doctor, professor
Names of nationalities, languages, and races
school, college, or university unless it is accompanied by a proper name
Many Eskimos live in Alaska. Anita is Greek, but she also
 ANSWER SHEET

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