English Toolkit - improve your grammar, punctuation and spelling!

16.2Afterthoughts

TYPICAL ERROR I have really enjoyed watching football on television this year. Especially as this is the first time we have seen it on a 3D screen.

CORRECTION I have really enjoyed watching football on television this year - especially as this is the first time we have seen it on a 3D screen.

EXPLANATION In the example above, the words in the second ‘sentence’ cannot be punctuated as a separate sentence because they do not make sense on their own. They are an afterthought, and so a dash is the most appropriate punctuation to use.

Insert a dash as needed in each of the following sentences to signal an afterthought (and make any other changes necessary to punctuation).

I left my details with an offer to pay for the damage. A small price to pay to remain guilt-free.

The idea of not working can sound pretty attractive. Until you find yourself sitting around with nothing to do.

Bad experiences are a necessary evil. Necessary, because without them there would be many things in life we would never learn.

I will give the test my best shot. Not that I have much chance of doing well in it.

We are ideally, born into this world free. Free to speak, learn and become whatever we wish to be.