Question

When there is a change of thought (false start) or a speech error, or to mark an incomplete sentence, what is the purpose of using which punctuation mark?

1) Period
2) Comma
3) Question mark
4) Exclamation mark

Answer 1

The dash is the punctuation mark used to denote a change of thought, speech error, or incomplete sentence, providing a strong break in the sentence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The punctuation mark used to indicate a change of thought, a speech error, or to mark an incomplete sentence is the dash. The dash is effective in creating a break in the sentence that is stronger than a comma but not as final as a period. This mark can be used to emphasize or set off a phrase, and it is also useful for correcting sentence fragments or comma splices by replacing them with a dash or by using a comma or dash to avoid the error.

For example, if you start a sentence with one idea and abruptly shift to another, a dash can signal this to the reader: 'I was planning to write about summer vacations—until I remembered my winter ski trip.'