Year 6 English: The dash to mark a boundary between two clauses
Part of the Year 6 English semi-colons, colons, dashes, bullet points and hyphens chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
The dash to mark a boundary between two clauses
A dash (–) can mark the boundary between two independent clauses, as a semi-colon does. In UK writing, put a space either side of the dash. The second clause starts with a small letter, unless it begins with a name.
Two sentences and one dash
| Two sentences | Joined with a dash |
|---|---|
| She finished the puzzle. Her brother was still searching for the last piece. | She finished the puzzle – her brother was still searching for the last piece. |
| The bridge is old. It has been repaired many times. | The bridge is old – it has been repaired many times. |
Key ideas
- A dash marks a boundary between two independent clauses.
- Put a space either side of the dash.
- The second clause starts with a small letter.
Method. Replace the full stop with a spaced dash, and use a small letter after it.
- Find the full stop. The full stop between the two sentences is replaced.early.
- Use the dash. A spaced dash marks the boundary between the two clauses.–
- Write the sentence. The second clause starts with a small letter.The sun rose early – the field was already full.
- Write the answer. The sun rose early – the field was already full.
Check. The dash marks the boundary. ✓
Method. Check the spaces around the dash.
- Check the first. There are no spaces around the dash.rang–the
- Check the second. There is a space either side of the dash.rang – the
- Write the answer. The bell rang – the children ran.
Check. A spaced dash is used in UK writing. ✓
Method. Join two related clauses with a spaced dash.
- Check the clauses. Both clauses are complete.two clauses
- Join them. Use a spaced dash, then a small letter.The shop was closed – we walked home instead.
- Write the answer. The shop was closed – we walked home instead.
Check. The dash joins the two clauses. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: use a space either side of a dash in UK writing (a – b), and a small letter after it when it joins two clauses.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to read a sentence with a dash aloud, and to pause at the dash. Then ask them to explain the link between the two clauses.
Exercise 8C Practice: dashes
Method. Use a dash to mark the boundary between two clauses.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.It rained all day / The match was cancelled
- Join them with a dash. The dash marks the boundary, and the second clause starts with a small letter.It rained all day – the match was cancelled.
- Write the answer. It rained all day – the match was cancelled.
Check. The dash marks the boundary. ✓
Watch out. Put a space either side of the dash, and use a small letter after it.
Method. Use a dash to mark the boundary between two clauses.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.The shop was closed / We walked home instead
- Join them with a dash. The dash marks the boundary, and the second clause starts with a small letter.The shop was closed – we walked home instead.
- Write the answer. The shop was closed – we walked home instead.
Check. The dash marks the boundary. ✓
Watch out. Put a space either side of the dash, and use a small letter after it.
Method. Use a dash to mark the boundary between two clauses.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.The bell rang / The children ran into the hall
- Join them with a dash. The dash marks the boundary, and the second clause starts with a small letter.The bell rang – the children ran into the hall.
- Write the answer. The bell rang – the children ran into the hall.
Check. The dash marks the boundary. ✓
Watch out. Put a space either side of the dash, and use a small letter after it.
Method. Use a dash to mark the boundary between two clauses.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.She finished the puzzle / Her brother was still searching for the last piece
- Join them with a dash. The dash marks the boundary, and the second clause starts with a small letter.She finished the puzzle – her brother was still searching for the last piece.
- Write the answer. She finished the puzzle – her brother was still searching for the last piece.
Check. The dash marks the boundary. ✓
Watch out. Put a space either side of the dash, and use a small letter after it.
Method. Use a dash to mark the boundary between two clauses.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.The bridge is old / It has been repaired many times
- Join them with a dash. The dash marks the boundary, and the second clause starts with a small letter.The bridge is old – it has been repaired many times.
- Write the answer. The bridge is old – it has been repaired many times.
Check. The dash marks the boundary. ✓
Watch out. Put a space either side of the dash, and use a small letter after it.
Method. Use a dash to mark the boundary between two clauses.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.The farmer checked the fields / The sheep were safe in the barn
- Join them with a dash. The dash marks the boundary, and the second clause starts with a small letter.The farmer checked the fields – the sheep were safe in the barn.
- Write the answer. The farmer checked the fields – the sheep were safe in the barn.
Check. The dash marks the boundary. ✓
Watch out. Put a space either side of the dash, and use a small letter after it.
Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.
- Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
- Test the choice. A spaced dash is used in UK writing.The bell rang – the children ran. fits
- Reject the other choices. Two hyphens and no spaces is not the correct form of the dash here.The bell rang--the children ran. do not fit
- Write the answer. The bell rang – the children ran.
Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓
Method. Think about what each mark does.
- Look at the dash. A dash marks a boundary between two clauses.boundary
- Look at the semi-colon. A semi-colon marks the same kind of boundary.same boundary
- Write the answer. Both mark the boundary between two complete clauses, so the reader sees that they are linked.
Check. Both marks link two complete clauses. ✓
Method. Replace the full stop with a spaced dash, and use a small letter.
- Find the full stop. The full stop is between two related clauses.match.
- Replace it. A spaced dash joins them, and the crowd starts with a small letter.The team won the match – the crowd cheered.
- Write the answer. The team won the match – the crowd cheered.
Check. The dash has a space either side. ✓
Method. Use a spaced dash between the clauses.
- Check the clauses. Both clauses are complete.two clauses
- Join them. Use a spaced dash, then a small letter.It was late – we ran to the bus.
- Write the answer. It was late – we ran to the bus.
Check. The dash joins the clauses. ✓
Method. Use a spaced dash between the clauses.
- Check the clauses. Both clauses are complete.two clauses
- Join them. Use a spaced dash, then a small letter.The bridge is old – it has been repaired many times.
- Write the answer. The bridge is old – it has been repaired many times.
Check. The dash joins the clauses. ✓
Method. Write two complete clauses, then join them with a spaced dash.
- Write the first clause. The rain stopped is complete.The rain stopped
- Write the second clause. The sun came out over the hill is complete.the sun came out over the hill
- Write the answer. The rain stopped – the sun came out over the hill.
Check. The sentence uses a spaced dash. ✓
Method. Two complete clauses need a boundary mark between them.
- Find the two clauses. The sun rose early and the field was full are two clauses.two clauses
- Name the marks. A semi-colon or a spaced dash marks the boundary.semi-colon or dash
- Write the answer. a semi-colon or a dash
Check. The boundary needs a semi-colon or a dash. ✓
Method. Use a dash to mark the boundary between two clauses.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.It rained all day / The match was cancelled
- Join them with a dash. The dash marks the boundary, and the second clause starts with a small letter.It rained all day – the match was cancelled.
- Write the answer. It rained all day – the match was cancelled.
Check. The dash marks the boundary. ✓
Watch out. Put a space either side of the dash, and use a small letter after it.
Method. Think about whether a new sentence starts.
- Check the boundary. A dash joins two clauses in one sentence.one sentence
- Check the letter. The second clause continues the sentence, so a small letter is used.small letter
- Write the answer. The sentence has not ended, so the second clause continues it with a small letter.
Check. The second clause continues the sentence. ✓