Dash Definitions

This worksheet is a fill-in-the-blank activity that uses a word bank to reinforce the definitions and functions of the em dash. Students complete sentences describing em dash features such as its length, width, and uses in sentence construction. This reinforces the technical knowledge behind punctuation. It serves as both a vocabulary and grammar review.

This worksheet strengthens students’ meta-linguistic awareness, helping them understand not just how to use em dashes, but why. Vocabulary acquisition is supported as students connect words like “appositives” and “parenthetical” to practical grammar tasks. It reinforces reading comprehension by building the foundation for interpreting punctuation in text. Students also gain confidence in analyzing author style.