ACT English Dashes: Use Them for Emphasis and Interruption

A dash (use hyphen - not -- in this context) is used to set off parenthetical information with strong emphasis. Example: "The solution was simple-everyone agreed." Or for dramatic pause: "The answer to success is one thing-hard work." Dashes create emphasis and interrupt normal sentence flow. They can replace parentheses or commas when the author wants to draw attention. ACT accepts dashes in these contexts when the emphasis and interruption are appropriate to the passage's tone. Avoid overusing dashes; they lose their punch if every sentence has one.

Key distinction: Commas are mild separation, dashes are dramatic separation, parentheses are aside information. Choose based on the tone the passage requires.

Mistake 1: Using a dash when a comma or semicolon is more appropriate. Not every interruption needs a dash; save dashes for moments requiring emphasis. Mistake 2: Using a dash after an incomplete clause. "The team believed-" is wrong without completing the thought. A dash must separate two complete or meaningful units. Ask: Would a comma or semicolon be correct here instead? If yes, a dash might be too dramatic.

During practice, mark every dash and verify it creates appropriate emphasis. If removing the dash doesn't change meaning significantly, reconsider using it.

Sentence 1: "The experiment succeeded-the results were consistent." Correct (dash adds emphasis to result). Sentence 2: "She studied, practiced, and-most importantly-took care of herself." Correct (dashes set off important addition). Sentence 3: "The solution is complex-but fair." Correct if tone is dramatic. Sentence 4: "The team agreed-." Incorrect (incomplete thought). Sentence 5: "Three factors matter-time, money, and effort." Correct (dash introduces list with emphasis). Evaluate whether each dash adds appropriate emphasis or if a comma would suffice. For each, determine if the dash choice matches the passage tone.

Find five dash questions from a practice test. For each, evaluate whether the dash is used correctly and whether it's more appropriate than a comma or semicolon. By the fifth question, you'll understand dash usage nuance.

Dash questions appear less frequently than comma questions but test the same judgment about punctuation for emphasis. Mastering dash usage picks up 1 point because you understand when to emphasize and when to use mild separation.

Review dash usage this week. On every practice test, mark every dash and verify it adds appropriate emphasis. By test day, you should understand dash function and use it only when emphasis is warranted.