What is a nonrestrictive element using dashes?

Restrictive elements are word groups that are necessary to retain meaning. They are not set off from the rest of the sentence by commas or other punctuation.

Table of Contents Show

NONRESTRICTIVE ELEMENTS
Parenthetical Elements – Important Rule
Eight Types of Parenthetical Elements
When to Use Commas, Parentheses, and Dashes
Task Card Practice Using Sentences from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

INCORRECT: William Faulkner's novel, Light in August, is my favorite book.

CORRECTED: William Faulkner's novel Light in August is my favorite book.

Because Faulkner has written numerous novels, the writer must specify which one of them he's referring to. Setting the title off with commas would suggest that it could be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence; however, the title is essential for meaning.

For the same reason, restrictive clauses are not set off from the rest of the sentence by commas or other punctuation. These clauses usually begin with that or who.

INCORRECT: To do yoga, I need a shirt, that is loose and comfortable.

CORRECTED: To do yoga, I need a shirt that is loose and comfortable.

In this example, the speaker does not need just any shirt. It must be loose and comfortable. Because the phrase changes the meaning of the word "shirt," the phrase is restrictive. Removing it would change the meaning of the sentence.

NONRESTRICTIVE ELEMENTS

Nonrestrictive elements are groups of words that can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. Because removing them does not change meaning, nonrestrictive elements can be set off from the rest of the sentence.

CORRECT: I'd like to have more pets, but I only have one cat, Bill.

Because the writer only has one cat, its name just adds extra information. If the name were removed, the reader would still know what cat was being discussed.

For the same reason, nonrestrictive clauses can be set off from the rest of the sentence by commas or other punctuation. These clauses usually begin with which or who.

CORRECT: When I do yoga, I wear my favorite shirt, which is really old.

In this example, the fact that the writer's favorite shirt is old has no bearing on the meaning of the word shirt. It's simply a detail she decided to add. Therefore, it is nonrestrictive. It can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21588069-scientific-research-has-changed-world-now-it-needs-change-itself-how-science-goes-wrong

Even when flawed research does not put people’s lives at risk—and much of it is too far from the market to do so*—*it squanders money and the efforts of some of the world’s best minds.

Should the starred dash from the above be replaced by a comma? because when you take the non-restrictive element out of the context. It should be like:

Even when flawed research does not put people’s lives at risk, it squanders money and the efforts of some of the world’s best minds.

So, the closing dash ,in the original quote, for the non-restrictive element actually encroached the original comma and made the structure blur a bit.

Or is it a rule for a dash non-restrictive element to be enclosed by dash when it is in the middle of a sentence?

Both dashes and parentheses are used to set off interrupting comments, explanations, examples, and other similar parenthetical elements from the main thought of the sentence. Commas are ordinarily used when parenthetical or other nonrestrictive elements area closely related in the main thought of the sentence. Dashes and parentheses are used when the interruption is abrupt and the element set off is only loosely related to the main thought of the sentence.

Though the choice between dashes and parentheses is sometimes a matter of taste, dashes emphasize more strongly the element being set off and give it greater importance than parentheses do. Parentheses are more commonly used when the element enclosed is an incidental explanatory comment, an aside, or a nonessential bit of information.

A single dash is used following an introductory element or preceding a final sentence element. A pair of dashes is used to enclose an element within a sentence. Parentheses are always used in pairs around the enclosed element. In handwriting, distinguish the dash from the hyphen by making the dash longer. In computer written copy, use two hyphens without spacing to indicate the dash. Example: word--word.

THE DASH

Use the dash or a pair of dashes to mark an abrupt shift in sentence structure or thought.

Could she�should she even try to�borrow money from her aunt?

The Queen of England never carries money�too unseemly�but travels with ladies in waiting who pay from the royal purse for whatever Her Majesty fancies.

That puppy is going to grow up to be enormous�check out the size of his paws�and will eat us out of house and home.

Use the dash to set off nonrestrictive appositives and other parenthetical elements for emphasis.

Indeed, the crassest form of more--is better using an easily measured quantity to assess improperly a far more subtle and elusive quality�is still with us.

In any fight against the sun, man�for all his technology�will come out the loser.

Use the dash for clarity to set off internally punctuated appositives or other parenthetical elements. To prevent confusion, use dashes rather than commas to set off appositives containing punctuated items in a series.

In the following sentence the word object appears to be one item in a series.

Putting a spin on an object, a top, a bullet, a satellite, gives it balance and stability.

But when the commas are replaced by dashes, the meaning is clear.

Putting a spin on an object�a top, a bullet, a satellite�gives it balance and stability.

Use the dash to set off introductory lists or summary statements.

Gather data, tabulate, annotate, classify�the process seemed endless to the research assistant.

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Common Core L.6.2.A states students should use punctuation (commas, parentheses, dashes) to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements. So, is there a difference between the three? Some resources say no. Others say yes. This post will list the rules pointing out the differences in the three, so you can decide.

Get both foldable organizers here.

First, you need to understand the meanings of nonrestrictive and restrictive elements.

Nonrestrictive elements are groups of words that can be removed from the sentence without changing its meaning. The sentence would still make sense without the parenthetical element. Nonrestrictive elements add extra information that is nonessential.

Restrictive elements are necessary to retain the meaning of the sentence.

Example #1

The two largest land animals on the earth – the African elephant and the giraffe – are herbivores.

The appositive (the African elephant and the giraffe) is a nonrestrictive element. You can remove it from the sentence, and the sentence makes sense. The phrase adds extra information that is nonessential to the meaning of the sentence. — The two largest land animals on the earth are herbivores.

Example #2

All students who do their work should pass easily.

If you remove the clause – who do their work – from this sentence it changes the meaning. The clause is important because not all students will pass, only those who do their work will pass. Because of this, the clause is restrictive.

Parenthetical Elements – Important Rule

Parentheses, commas, or dashes separate the rest of the sentence from the parenthetical element. YOU MUST use the same punctuation on each side of the parenthetical element. You will not mix dashes with commas or parenthesize with dashes. SO, if you use commas, use 2, and so on.

Eight Types of Parenthetical Elements

direct address – the name of the person who is being directly spoken to

- Yes, George, you may go to the movies on Saturday.

appositive – nouns or phrases that rename preceding nouns or phrases

- Our mayor, Mike Taylor, gave a speech.
- The beautiful flowers, red and yellow roses, smell sweet.
- Sally Smith, the best ballerina in the show, shone as the star of the evening.

participial phrases – verb-based phrases that describe (modify) nouns or pronouns

- Eaten by mosquitoes, we wished we had not gone camping near the swamp.
- Quickly checking over his answers, Bill handed in his assignment.
- Removing his glasses, Clark Kent became Superman.

clarification – words that make an idea, statement, etc. clear or intelligible

- The town where I live (Blowing Rock) is a tourist destination in the mountains of North Carolina.

i.e. and e.g. – phrases beginning with e.g. (for example) or i.e. (in other words)

- I like chocolate, i.e., the creamy sweetness that melts in your mouth.
- I like chocolate, e.g., Swiss milk chocolate, white chocolate, sweet chocolate, and even chocolate milk.

explanation – something (such as a statement of fact) that explains something

- The school year (this year that’s August 3 – May 25) includes 180 school days.

interjection – word, phrase, or sound used to convey an emotion such as surprise, excitement, happiness, or anger

- We’re having a snow day, yippee!

a joke or play on words

- Energizer Bunny arrested – charged with battery.
- The knight (Sir Render) was afraid to fight.
- The sleeping bull (not bull-dozer) woke up and charged.

When to Use Commas, Parentheses, and Dashes

Add Comment with Commas
Use commas before and after clauses that are closely related (description, clarification, or detail) to the main idea.

De-emphasize Comments with Parentheses
Parentheses are used to enclose comments that turn away from the main idea of the sentence. The clause could be an afterthought, side comment, or explain circumstances.

Emphasize Comments with Dashes
Dashes are used to separate a comment that is loosely related to the main idea. They are used when interrupting, contrasting, or for an afterthought. Dashes should be used sparingly.

Get both foldable organizers here.

Task Card Practice Using Sentences from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Turn punctuation practice into a game-like activity with these FREE task cards. The task cards contain passages from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Since students are so familiar with this story, you can use the task cards without reading the novel.

In this practice commas, dashes, and parentheses have been omitted. Students rewrite the sentences placing the correct punctuation around non-restrictive clauses. These are descriptive clauses. They provide extra information that is not essential. This means they can be removed, and the sentence still makes sense.

This collection of cards is set up to work well with the game Scoot.

Click here to get the task cards.