Will there ever be single dashes as correct answers? Usually I see statements including a - and then closing it with another -. Will the dash every start with - and close with a comma (vice versa)?
Nope.
A single dash won’t ever close with a comma (if by close you mean that the whole phrase is removable detail), but that doesn’t mean a comma won’t still show up with a dash in the correct answer. For example, #4 on the 2013-2014 free official ACT PDF.
-Jon
If this is the one you’re talking about, could you explain it a little more? I’m usually near perfect in Eng but I just don’t understand how F is correct. I’d usually choose F in this scenario anyways just because I know a comma has to precede “but.”
H is flat out wrong. Semicolons must be connecting two independent clauses if not used for a list. The second part of the sentence cannot stand on its own. Therefore, G and J are wrong. F is the only answer that is left.
A single dash can, and is, used as a correct answer on the ACT. The question above is one example. A single dash works like parentheses at the end of a sentence. An example I use is “They finally won a game - what a relief!” which could also be written “They finally won a game (what a relief)!”