(Correct em dash usage). 1. They are special characters. Colons and Dashes Relative to Quotation Marks. Note: If you're a stickler for the rules, use an em dash to extend a sentence. In this sentence you could use a comma, a dash, or a colon: The new suspect was Aardvark’s best friend: Squiggly. Example sentences with the word em. Whereas hyphens primarily divide compound words (“a long-standing concern”), dashes divide other kinds of compound structures or indicate breaks in a sentence. That can be confusing. To me the readability improves by using space-en dash-space, which of course is against the rules. There’s even more explanation: If the break belongs to the surrounding sentence rather than to the quoted material, the em dashes must appear outside the quotation marks. For that reason, it is a good idea to … The dash is for effect, not overstuffing. I would however argue that your example sentences don't convey exactly what you mean to convey. Read more about dashes to extend a sentence Using Dashes as Parentheses We're all familiar with putting explanations or afterthoughts in brackets (just like this). The em dash also acts as the longest stop or pause in a sentence compared to the other three dashes, which all serve to join parts of sentences rather than break up a sentence and stop the reader. When a closing dash is not used, the sentence is ended with a period (full-stop) as usual. We use the em dash to create a strong break in the structure of a sentence. em example sentences. Em dash . Em dash. Here’s a decent system to utilize when attempting to choose whether to utilize EM-dashes or enclosures in your composition: If you end up needing to toss in some additional data about a thing in a specific sentence and are uncertain about whether the brackets or the EM-dash is the best approach, read the sentence so anyone can hear. (Press Ctrl-C, or ⌘-C on a Mac); In your Word document, place the text cursor where you'd like the dash … THE EM DASH. If the parenthetical phrase ends the sentence, however, only a single em dash is needed. The em dash should be used sparingly. Dashes come in two varieties: em dashes and en dashes. When to Use Em Dash (—) with Examples. It has multiple uses, making it a especially useful in informal writing or fiction. Its use or misuse for this purpose is a matter of taste, and subject to the effect on the writer’s or reader’s “ear.” Em dashes also substitute for something missing. It adds panache to your texts, connects sentences and looks great on the web. As an editor I don’t like the visual of the no space-em dash-no space in a sentence. So I set it as… The Em Dash. More specifically, it can be used to: Set off an inserted phrase that, because of what it modifies, needs to go in the middle of a sentence. In formal writing you should use the bracket rather than the dash as a dash is considered less formal. The em dash is longer than the hyphen or the en dash. Em dashes — so called because they are (at least historically) the width of the character m — are used for emphasis or interruption. There are three types of dashes—the em dash, the en dash, and the hyphen. Em dash -- The Punctuation Guide. Note that dashes are double the length of hyphens. If all else fails, copy and paste the dash from another document, such as this page. The em dash is an underused, and often misunderstood, piece of punctuation. The em dash is used in sentences to create a strong break. Highlight the dash you want to insert:; Em dash: — En dash: – Copy it. An em dash is the longest of the dashes. My son—where has he gone?—would like to meet you. What’s more, an em dash can also signal a sentence break when you want to clarify something or give extra focus to a list of items. 0. There are three types of dashes in writing used to convey different ideas in an engaging way. Sentences Menu. An em dash or a pair of em dashes may indicate a sudden break in thought or sentence structure or an interruption in dialogue. They also appear in works-cited lists in MLA publications. The em dash is so named because it is the width of a capital “M.” Most authorities require no space on either side of the em dash. The term ellipsis also refers to the appropriate omission of words that are understood and thus not needed; it is often used where the words omitted would be redundant. 0. Dashes can be used to add parenthetical statements or comments in much the same way as you would use brackets. It allows, in a manner similar to parentheses, an additional thought to be added within a sentence by sort of breaking away from that sentence—as I’ve done here. Like a pair of brackets “Product X … The em dash is the longest of the three dashes and lines in the English language. Dashes can be used to create emphasis in a sentence. But it’s a valuable one—if you can get it right. A method of accelerating the em algorithm will be described, as well as a number of variations of the EM algorithm. Consistency, however, is the most important factor. The em dash is made on most PCs by holding down the ALT key while typing 0151 on the keypad ( — ). It adds panache to your texts, connects sentences and looks great on the web. The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. 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. But three or more em dashes in one sentence creates an ambivalence in the sentence structure. Depending on the sentence, the em-dash can have a similar function to parentheses, colons, commas, and even semicolons. But, brackets are just one of the choices you have for inserting extra information into a sentence. There are actually two types of dashes, each with different uses: the em dash—also called the "long dash," according to Oxford Online Dictionaries—and the en dash, which doesn't have another name but falls between the hyphen and em dash in terms of length. Use a dash, not a colon, to enclose a list of terms that does not end the sentence: To form a true em dash on most PCs hold down the ALT key while typing 0151 on the numerical pad on the right side of your keyboard ( — ). Example: Everything I saw in my new neighborhood—from the graceful elm trees to the stately brick buildings—reminded me of my alma mater. Not only does the double dash assist in manipulating time inside a scene, but it also is one of the most effective tools to direct the eye. The new suspect was Aardvark’s best friend, Squiggly. Insert an Em or En dash using copy and paste. A well-timed em dash can also help break up your sentences visually, making it easier and more appealing to read. When you type two hyphens together (--), most word processors automatically combine them into a single dash. Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons—in each case to slightly different effect. 7.40 The Em Dash, General. Depending on the sentence, the em-dash can have a similar function to parentheses, colons, commas, and even semicolons. Dashes are, however, much less common than parentheses. 7.41 Enumerations. 0. An em-dash is used to mark an interruption in the structure of a sentence. Dictionary Thesaurus Examples Sentences Quotes ... em dashes. But an em-dash is not the same as these other marks; it brings a different flavor to the sentence and adds a special emphasis that wasn’t there before. Twice as long as the en dash, the long dash can be used in place of a comma, parenthesis, or colon to enhance readability or emphasize the conclusion of a sentence. In most of its uses the em dash ("long dash") is a substitute for the colon, semicolon or comma, but it indicates a more emphatic or abrupt break in the sentence, or a less formal style. Use the em dash to indicate an interruption or an abrupt change in thought. The two most common dashes are the em dash and the en dash. Read back over the action lines of both versions. All three sentences me an the same thing; they just have a slightly different feel or tone. Rules for Using the Em Dash 5 Useful Long Dash Rules. 0. The em dash was once reserved for typography nerds, but now it's everywhere. Em dashes can work for stuttering as well, but they signify a longer pause/slower stutter than the hyphen, and I typically don’t recommend them. When we hear the term dash, most of us picture the em dash. Example (complete sentence): The students—they were each over the age of eighteen—lined up in the streets to vote for the presidential candidates. As you can see, the em dash is the longest of the three, and roughly the width of the letter m, which is how it got its name. Rule 1: Does your sentence contain a list that is introduced by a pause in the middle?If so, you can use either an em dash or a colon.The colon is more formal. In Spanish, em dashes can be used to mark off parenthetical phrases. 0. I still like Grammar Girl's advice: A dash also introduces extra material, but, well, a dash is quite a dramatic punctuation mark. 0. hold em know hold em or good for me the intent of. On the keyboard. But dashes do not appear on standard keyboards. And an example: Dashes. The em dash and the en dash are not related, even remotely; more on en dashes next week. Plus, with spaces around the em dash, text may automatically break at the end of a sentence (as in a blog post), and the next line will start with an em dash. If you're using the em dash to make a sentence just a little longer, if you're using it to try to stuff one more point in the sentence, stop. Yes, em dashes can be used to replace commas but are "less formal". (And yes, the en dash is named because it’s the width of the letter n.). It is significantly longer than the hyphen. The em dash/ long dash (—) is different from en dash (–) and hyphen (-). Example: “In America—as elsewhere—free speech is confined to the dead.” Set off a parenthetical phrase that you want to highlight. Em Dashes An em dash marks an abrupt interruption or sudden stop. In contrast, the em-dash is used to emphasize a phrase or to indicate an interruption in speech. The Em-Dash. Some style and grammar guides even permit you to write a complete sentence within the dashes. 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