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Zorluk: Çok zorPunctuation of Nonessential Elements

The passage below contains a nonessential element set off by punctuation. Which punctuation mark correctly completes the passage by setting off the nonessential element?

Cevap:For decades, cognitive scientists have debated the validity of linguistic relativity. Proposed in the mid-twentieth century, the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis—the controversial theory that the structure of a language influences its speakers' cognition and world view【—】continues to spark debate among contemporary scholars who investigate how grammatical categories might gently nudge human perception in subtle, non-linguistic ways.

Cevap

An em dash (—)
The correct punctuation mark is an em dash (—). In the sentence, the parenthetical appositive phrase 'the controversial theory that the structure of a language influences its speakers' cognition and world view' is a nonessential element. Nonessential elements must be set off from the rest of the sentence using matching punctuation marks on both sides. Since the phrase is opened with an em dash after 'hypothesis', it must be closed with a matching em dash before 'continues'.

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1
Identify the nonessential element in the sentence.
The phrase 'the controversial theory that the structure of a language influences its speakers' cognition and world view' is an appositive phrase that provides nonessential explanatory information about the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
Nonessential elements must be set off from the rest of the sentence by matching punctuation marks.
2
Examine the punctuation mark that introduces the nonessential element.
The nonessential element begins with an em dash (—) immediately following 'hypothesis'.
Punctuation setting off a nonessential element must be symmetrical (e.g., comma-comma, dash-dash, or parenthesis-parenthesis).
3
Determine the punctuation mark needed to close the nonessential element.
Because the nonessential element begins with an em dash, it must also end with an em dash (—) before the main verb 'continues'.
An em dash is required to maintain grammatical symmetry and avoid punctuation asymmetry.

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Punctuation of Nonessential Elements
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