Do you use a dash or commas in this sentence???

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>do you use dashes....</p>

<p>"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight reveals the ideals of the chivalric code-- an ethical set of rules upon the men of the middle age strived to live by-- and the difficulties to adhere to the code as shown by Sir Gawain’s fall from grace."</p>

<p>or do you use commas like so</p>

<p>"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight reveals the ideals of the chivalric code,an ethical set of rules upon the men of the middle age strived to live by, and the difficulties to adhere to the code as shown by Sir Gawain’s fall from grace."</p>

<p>which one would be correct pertaining to this sentence, and how do you know which one to put in sentences?</p>

2

<p>Use the commas; the phrase is defining the noun.</p>

3

<p>I like the first example. The dashes signify the subsequent defining of the “chivalric code.”</p>

4

<p>whats the rule on this. When are commas appropriate and when are dashes appropriate</p>

5

<p>I’ll support my position:</p>

<p>“If you have a dash where a comma would work, use the comma!”</p>

<p>“Do not replace commas that are being used for an appositive with dashes. Simply because it’s an interruption, doesn’t mean a dash belongs there.”</p>

<p>Source: [How</a> to Use a Dash in an English Sentence - wikiHow](<a href=“http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Dash-in-an-English-Sentence]How”>4 Ways to Use a Dash in an English Sentence - wikiHow)</p>

6

<p>i think they’re both right, but using commas is more right</p>

7

<p>But when commas are used in this sentence, it may lead the reader to believe that the phrase “ethical rules…” is part of a three item list instead of defining the chivalric code. With dashes, that confusion doesn’t occur.</p>

8

<p>^ It helps to make the sentence clearer, but I don’t think that makes it right.</p>

<p>Anyways, the sentence has other problems:</p>

<p>“an ethical set of rules upon the men of the middle age strived to live by”</p>

<p>“upon” shouldn’t be there.</p>