Final answer:
A dash can effectively emphasize an important phrase in a sentence, create a significant pause, and indicate a change of direction, thus adding punch to your writing and keeping the reader engaged. The correct answer is option: 2. emphasize an important phrase by setting it apart from the sentence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Using a dash in writing can add emphasis and interest to a sentence. Dashes are particularly effective for setting apart an important phrase to give it additional emphasis, which helps in directing the reader’s attention to the significance of that phrase.
For example, when you write - ‘The U.S.S. Constitution became known as "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812–during which the cannonballs fired from the British H.M.S. Guerriere merely bounced off the sides of the Constitution.’ - the dash sets off important additional information that emphasizes the significance of the nickname "Old Ironsides."
Moreover, the effective use of dashes can also be a way to create a pause, and introduce a change of direction in a sentence, stimulating the reader’s curiosity and anticipation for what follows. For instance, ‘To some of you, my proposals may seem radical–even revolutionary.’ The use of the dash here not only creates a dramatic pause but also underscores the strength of the word ‘revolutionary.’