Punctuation Pause and Breaks Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.8.2.A

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

There are plenty of times when you are writing that you wish to add a dramatic pause int the work. One of the easiest ways to add a pause is to use a comma, but commas can sometimes be nonessential and can break up the true flow of a sentence. Authors often will also use colons, dashes, and even ellipses to add a measure of drama. If you are trying to complete a thought or entire scene you can often use a page break to scoot your reader to another place physically. These worksheets will have students using pauses and breaks to provide a dramatic effect for their readers.

Pauses and Breaks Worksheets To Print:

Using the Ellipsis to Omit Text – We get you going with a sentence and ask you to end it off for us.

Writing: The Dash – Most students don't have any idea the importance that a dash has in the English Language.

Omitting Text with the Ellipsis – Add an ellipsis and drop some text from each sentence.

Punctuation: Pauses and Breaks – Try to understand why a dash or ellipsis was used in each case.

How to Punctuate an Interruption – What happens when we punctuate within the sentence itself.

Omitting Text with an Ellipsis – Note there is a space before and after the ellipsis.

Using the Ellipsis to Show Pause – Rewrite each sentence using an ellipsis.

Punctuating Interruptions – Rewrite each sentence, using a dash.

Punctuation: Pauses – Write two examples of each use of the ellipsis.

Put That On Hold – Write an original sentence that demonstrates how to punctuate each of the following sentences.

Understanding the Ellipsis – When, where, and why do we use it?

Pause Here... – Write two original sentences that demonstrate two different uses of the ellipsis.

Using Punctuation to Call Something Out – Add extra information to each of the sentences.

Hey, Look at Me! – Insert dashes or parentheses as appropriate depending on the nature of the information being set off.

Punctuation: Pauses and Breaks – Identify what the ellipsis or dash in each sentence indicates.

How to Punctuate Pauses and Breaks?


Pauses and breaks are very essential in academic as well as creative writing. Pauses and breaks influence the meaning of content and tell the reader the ways to read the content to understand it. Writers punctuate pauses and breaks mostly in case of writing a speech or poetry where pauses and breaks play a vital role in the development of meaning.


To punctuate pauses and breaks, several punctuation marks including ellipsis, comma, dash, etc are used. Given below is a brief description of some of the most commonly used punctuation marks that are used to punctuate pauses and breaks:


Ellipsis (...)


Ellipsis, represented by a series of period marks, are used to denote a break or a pause in the flow of written content. It is mostly used at the beginning of the paragraphs, sentences, and phrases indicating that this part should be read after taking a little break from the previous text.


Commas (,)


Commas can also be used to punctuate a break or pause. Commas are generally used between a list of ideas or items to indicate a break. Also while reading, at the place of comma, reader should take a break, this break is referred to as a natural pause.


Dash ( - )


A dash is a small, horizontal line that shows a pause or a break in the content. While writing, writers prefer to use a dash to punctuate pauses and breaks rather than using commas, ellipsis, and other punctuation marks since it is easy to use. It is mostly used in places where breaks and pause are meant to create suspense.


Semicolon (;)


In the case of two or more interrelated sentences or ideas, semicolons are used to indicate a pause or a break between two sentences. If a semicolon is not used, it will be read as a single sentence which can affect the meaning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Omitting Text with the Ellipsis Preview