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Tinanam0102 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

The long dash

Hi teachers,

Excerpts:

The Vatican needs to play ball within democratic societies - and turn over its criminals to the cops - while decrying human-rights abuses in countries where it hopes to continue to grow.

1. Can you tell what functions do the dashes in the sentence above?
2. What does it mean "where it hopes to continue to grow"?

Thanks
TN
  

Top answer

The dashes indicate an aside or parenthetical remark (one that can be eliminated without harming the sense of the basic sentence). You can set off such remarks with a pair of commas, with a pair of dashes, or with parentheses. I like peanuts, a wonderful nut, as well as almonds.

— Doctor D

  • The dashes indicate an aside or parenthetical remark (one that can be eliminated without harming the sense of the basic sentence).
  • You can set off such remarks with a pair of commas, with a pair of dashes, or with parentheses.
  • I like peanuts, a wonderful nut, as well as almonds.
  • I like peanuts- a wonderful nut -as well as almonds.
  • I like peanuts (a wonderful nut) as well as almonds.
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2 Answers
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The dashes indicate an aside or parenthetical remark (one that can be eliminated without harming the sense of the basic sentence).
You can set off such remarks with a pair of commas, with a pair of dashes, or with parentheses.

I like peanuts, a wonderful nut, as well as almonds.
I like peanuts-a wonderful nut-as well as almonds.
I like peanuts (a wonderful nut) as
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Hi Doctor D,

Thank you for your examples and explanation. I understand now.

Thanks again
TN
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