Brackets or dashes?

Question

In this instance, my tutor placed a mark next to my use of dashes, would it be reasonable to assume that he meant change them to brackets?

My mother saw this happen, and on the way home - in her usual superstitious manner - said:

My mother saw this happen, and on the way home (in her usual superstitious manner) said:

Thanks in advance!
Emma

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Read this (one page each on dashes, parentheses and commas), and then tell us what you would use. I'll reserve an opinion until after you decide!

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/dashes-parentheses-and-commas

Sailsofoblivion · Answer

This is the line in context:

That year, as she attempted to place it tastefully on one particular branch, it fell to the floor and smashed. My mother saw this happen, and on the way home (in her usual superstitious manner) said:
“I can’t believe the decoration smashed. I think it’s an omen; Mary is going to die this year.”
Sadly, my mother’s prediction came to pass, and as a result, I found Mary’s house incredibly eerie in the wake of her death; the floorboards seemed to creak and moan in an ominous fashion, and every room felt unnaturally cold.

Now I'm not sure... It's a side comment, but it's importance really depends on interpretation. Either works, I think!

GPY · Answer

I don't think dashes are wrong there. I wouldn't use brackets. You could also write: "... and on the way home said, in her usual superstitious manner, ..."

You actually typed hyphens, not dashes.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

My opinion is to use commas. It is sensible in the flow of the sentence.

Sailsofoblivion · Answer

AlpheccaStarsMy opinion is to use commas. It is sensible in the flow of the sentence.

Thank you!

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