How To Use Long Dashes In Writing
Em en and the double hyphen.
How to use long dashes in writing. Dashes are used to separate groups of words not to separate parts of words like a hyphen does. Use a longer em dash to join independent clauses with words like and but as or and for. Dashes can also be used as parenthesis. A long dash s primary job is to tell the reader that you ve jumped tracks onto a new though related subject just for a moment. Do not confuse a dash with a hyphen which is shorter.
It s longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. Em dash shortcut windows ctrl alt minus on numeric keypad em dash shortcut mac command m. You can use these dashes in your writing to signify breaks dialogue and much more. 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. Use an em dash to bring focus to a list.
Read also about the difference between dashes and hyphens. So don t get carried away with your colons. Long dashes in writing. You can use a colon to connect two sentences when the second sentence summarizes sharpens or explains the first. The most common types of dashes are the en dash and the em dash.
Both sentences should be complete and their content should be very closely related. After we buy toenail clippers the dinosaur in that exhibit could use a trim you know we ll stop at the doughnut shop. This grammar lesson offers an explanation on the correct use of dashes and gives examples of dashes used in sentences. The two most common dashes are the en dash and the em dash. Em dash symbol em dash alt code.
To properly use a dash in an english sentence start by identifying which dash you should use. Dashes are often used informally instead of commas colons and brackets. Dashes are used to extend a sentence to replace colons semicolons or three dots. When the list comes first it s better to use a dash to connect the list to the clause. Use a dash to show a pause or break in meaning in the middle of a sentence.