Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of Notwithstanding its versatility, the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence. For example: So, next time you look in your toolkit of punctuation marks and see the en dash or em dash just waiting to be put to work, ensure that you are using these marks for the right reasons and following the rules discussed. The dash is a punctuation mark that is similar in appearance to the hyphen and minus sign but differs from these symbols in length and, in some fonts, height above the baseline. Angela Gibson, writing for the MLA Style Center, a writing resource for the Experienced writers know that these marks are not interchangeable. By using ThoughtCo, you accept ourGuidelines for Using Semicolons, Colons, and DashesDefinition of Compound Sentences and How to Use ThemUnderstanding the Types of Verbs in English Grammar dash verb (MOVE QUICKLY) B2 [ I ] to go somewhere quickly: The dog ran off, and she dashed after him. The en dash (–) is longer than a hyphen but shorter than an em dash. Some have expressed support for the dash:
Though the Associated Press does not use the en dash, the press service nicely describes how other styles do use the shorter dash. Compare the following examples.Upon discovering the errors (all 124 of them), the publisher immediately recalled the books.Upon discovering the errorsâall 124 of themâthe publisher immediately recalled the books.When used in place of parentheses at the end of a sentence, only a single dash is used.After three weeks on set, the cast was fed up with his direction (or, rather, lack of direction).After three weeks on set, the cast was fed up with his directionâor, rather, lack of direction.After months of deliberation, the jurors reached a unanimous verdictâguilty.The white sand, the warm water, the sparkling sunâthis is what brought them to Fiji.Two em dashes can be used to indicate missing portions of a word, whether unknown or intentionally omitted.Mr.
There are two basic ways to use an em dash in a sentence: Most newspapers, however, set the em dash off with a single space on each side.Most newspapers â and all that follow AP style â insert a space before and after the em dash. The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. Note, however, that dashes are always more emphatic than commas.And yet, when the car was finally deliveredânearly three months after it was orderedâshe decided she no longer wanted it, leaving the dealer with an oddly equipped car that would be difficult to sell.A pair of em dashes can replace a pair of parentheses. First, it may be used to indicate a range—of numbers, … Some have expressed support for the dash: If you want to draw attention to the parenthetical content, use dashes. Jââ testified that the defendant yelled, âDie, aââ,â before pulling the trigger.From the faded and water-damaged note, we made out only this: âWas neâây going to mââ Kââ, but now âât.âWhen an entire word is missing, either two or three em dashes can be used. A good way to remember the difference between these two dashes is to visualize the en dash as the length of the letter N and the em dash as the length of the letter M. These dashes not only differ in length; they also serve different functions within a sentence. It is called n dash because in some traditional fonts, it is as wide as the letter “n.” An en-dash is generally used in two situations. My son—where has he gone?—would like to meet you. Ask yourself if your It is usually used as an alternative to another type of punctuation. The most common types of dashes are the en dash (–) and the em dash (—). On a Windows-based system, you can form an em dash on a keyboard by holding down the Alt key and typing There are actually two types of dashes, each with different uses: the Home Grammar Punctuation How To Use An Em Dash (—) How To Use An Em Dash (—) An em dash, or long dash, is used: in pairs, to mark off information or ideas that are not essential to an understanding of the rest of the sentence: Thousands of children—like the girl in this photograph—have been left homeless. Note how dashes subtly change the tone of the following sentences: "It tempts the writer to use it as a punctuation-maid-of-all-work that saves him the trouble of choosing the right stop." ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. She notes that the MLA also calls for an en dash when a compound in the predicate position includes a proper noun: Otherwise, confusion rather than clarity is likely to result.Do not mistake the em dash (â) for the slightly narrower A pair of em dashes can be used in place of commas to enhance readability. Some other styles call for en dashes to indicate ranges of dates, times, or page numbers, or with some compound modifiers. AP style calls for a space on both sides of an em dash, but most other styles, including MLA and APA, omit the spaces. For a tiny punctuation mark, the dash has sparked an unusual level of debate among writers, grammarians, and punctuation experts. The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. Notwithstanding its versatility, the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence. Dashes, like commas, semicolons, colons, ellipses, and parentheses, indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought. When used to extend a sentence, a dash can replace a semicolon (;), a colon (:), or three dots (...) used as a pause for effect. Whichever length you choose, use it consistently throughout your document. The AP, which does use em dashes, explains that these punctuation marks are used: Generally speaking, the dash does not have a unique role. Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons —in each case to slightly different effect. "The dash is seductive," says Ernest Gowers in "The Complete Plain Words," a style, grammar, and punctuation reference guide.
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