Which sentence correctly uses a dash to set off a nonessential clause?

Which sentence correctly uses a dash to set off a nonessential clause?

• A. The winner, who had trained hardest - finally won.
• B. The winner, who had trained hardest - finally won.
• C. The winner - who had trained hardest - finally won.
• D. The winner who had trained hardest - finally won.

Answer: (C)

Punctuation marks can set off extra information that doesn’t change who or what the sentence is about. A nonessential clause adds detail, but isn’t needed to identify the subject, so it’s usually marked off with commas. When the writer wants extra emphasis or a stronger pause, dashes can also bracket that same optional information. In this sentence, the phrase who had trained hardest is extra detail about the winner. Using a pair of dashes to enclose that clause makes clear that the main point is “The winner finally won,” and the rider “who had trained hardest” is additional information. The dash pair correctly marks off a nonessential clause and keeps the sentence smooth and emphatic. The other options mix punctuation or remove the proper bracketing. With a comma, the nonessential clause is not stressed in the intended way, and mixing a dash after a comma isn’t standard for this usage. Leaving the nonessential clause unbracketed would treat it as essential information, which changes the meaning and isn’t the intended use.

Punctuation marks can set off extra information that doesn’t change who or what the sentence is about. A nonessential clause adds detail, but isn’t needed to identify the subject, so it’s usually marked off with commas. When the writer wants extra emphasis or a stronger pause, dashes can also bracket that same optional information.

In this sentence, the phrase who had trained hardest is extra detail about the winner. Using a pair of dashes to enclose that clause makes clear that the main point is “The winner finally won,” and the rider “who had trained hardest” is additional information. The dash pair correctly marks off a nonessential clause and keeps the sentence smooth and emphatic.

The other options mix punctuation or remove the proper bracketing. With a comma, the nonessential clause is not stressed in the intended way, and mixing a dash after a comma isn’t standard for this usage. Leaving the nonessential clause unbracketed would treat it as essential information, which changes the meaning and isn’t the intended use.