ACT Preparation / Unit 2 ACT 0126 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Dash, Comma or Parenthesis
The idea
When an aside is set off inside a sentence, check three things. First, find where the aside begins and ends, and confirm it is nonessential by removing it. Second, look at the mark that opens it: the closing mark must be the same kind. Third, if the aside runs to the end of the sentence after a comma or a dash, the period closes it, and no second mark is needed.
In practice
Worked example: "Our guide (a retired ranger, knew every trail." The aside opens with a parenthesis, so it closes with one: "Our guide (a retired ranger) knew every trail." Second: "The final speaker—a student from Ohio, received the loudest applause." Opened with a dash, so closed with a dash: "The final speaker—a student from Ohio—received the loudest applause." Third: "We ate at the diner, the one on Main Street." The aside ends the sentence, so the period closes it.
Where people slip
When the choices offer a dash and a comma to close an aside opened by a dash, only the dash is correct, however natural the comma sounds.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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