How do you use em dash in dialogue?

To show an interruption of the spoken words, include an em dash inside the quotation marks, at the point where the dialogue is interrupted. “I knew you'd drop it.”

How do you write an interrupted dialogue?

To Indicate Interrupted Dialogue, Use An Em-Dash

To create interrupted dialogue that everyone will recognize as such, use an em-dash where you want to end the dialogue. You create an em-dash by typing two hyphens, and most word processing programs will tie them automatically into the longer dash.

What does a dash mean in dialogue?

Dashes create urgency. Just like in narrative, dashes can be used in dialogue to set off clauses within sentences. But the most important use of dashes in dialogue is to show one speaker interrupting another. The following example from Toni Morrison's Beloved shows both uses: “Nothing bad can happen to her.

How do you use an em dash correctly?

The em dash can function like a comma, a colon, or parenthesis. Like commas and parentheses, em dashes set off extra information, such as examples, explanatory or descriptive phrases, or supplemental facts. Like a colon, an em dash introduces a clause that explains or expands upon something that precedes it.

What is an example of an em dash?

1. The em dash is used to show a break in a sentence. Examples: We could not wait to meet them — we had missed them so much.

Using em-dashes part 1: dialogue

How do you end a sentence with an em dash?

Use a Pair of Em-dashes to Mark Off an Abrupt Break in a Sentence or One to Emphasize the Text at the End. Depending on the context, an em-dash—so named because its width matches a typesetter's capital M—can take the place of a comma, parenthesis, or a colon in a sentence.

Can you use em dash in formal writing?

Em Dash: An em dash is the width of an m. Use an em dash sparingly in formal writing. In informal writing, em dashes may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought.

How do you use a dash in a sentence examples?

Dashes are also used to mark the interruption of a sentence in dialogue: Example: “Help! This horse is going too fast,” the actor yelled. “I think I am fall—.”

How do you write an em dash in an essay?

Use Em Dashes to Set Off Parenthetical Information

Use one before the parenthetical information and one after it. Putting spaces before and after an em dash is a matter of preference; just be consistent.

Do you put a space before and after an em dash?

Most writers (and style guides) use the em-dash without spaces on either side.

Why do writers use em dashes?

An em dash is a punctuation mark that can be used to replace commas, parentheses, colons, and semicolons. In general, the em dash is seen as being more interruptive or striking than other punctuation, so it is often used stylistically to draw a reader's attention to a particular bit of information.

How do you show interruptions in a script?

As with all formatting advice, the idea is to clearly express your vision without interrupting the flow of the screenplay. One easy way to show one character interrupting another is to use double-dashes or an ellipsis to indicate the first character's dialogue is being interrupted.

Do you put a comma after an em dash?

Swan's PEU describes this. The em-dash does not take comma after it. That's because, as you said it correctly, it replaces a comma so you don't need to put it again. An em-dash may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought.

How do I insert an em dash in word?

Hold down the [Alt] key and type 0151 on the numeric keypad. Choose Symbol from the Insert menu, click the Special Characters tab, highlight the em dash, and click Insert.

How do you use a dash in the middle of a sentence?

Why would dashes be used in a sentence?

Use dashes to set off an idea or an appositive within a sentence. A dash (—) is a punctuation mark used to set off an idea within a sentence and may be used alone or in pairs. Dashes interrupt a thought in a more dramatic way than a phrase enclosed in commas, but less theatrically than parentheses.

Is using em dash informal?

The em dash is not informal. You can find plenty of examples in formal writing. Where you won't find it is in informal writing! The teacher is just criticizing your using it in a place where you could either split your sentence into two or use a different type of subordinating construction.

Where do you break an em dash?

According to The Punctuation Guide, “Most newspapers — and all that follow AP style — insert a space before and after the em dash.” Of course, this will introduce the possibility of having a line break just before the em dash, and that's not a good solution.

Should an em dash start a line?

Em dashes can end or start a line. In most text typefaces, em dashes have no side bearings, which make them appear very close to the words they separate. If this bugs you, feel free to add some kerning space around them, but don't add too much.

What is the effect of em dash?

Their role? Giving additional information or parenthetical information, which could vary from being a few words to complete sentences. Em dashes can do the same job as parenthesis, but not as subtly as they tend to leave an impact and add a casual flair to the writing.

Should I put space after dash?

When typing, use two hyphens together without spaces to form a dash. Do not put a space before or after the dash. Some word-processing programs have a mark called an em-dash (longer than a hyphen), which can be used with no space before or after it.

How do you use a hyphen en dash and em dash?

Both types of dashes are frequently confused for each other and another type of punctuation: the hyphen (-). The en dash and em dash get their names from their approximate length: The en dash is shorter, about the width of the letter N, and the em dash is longer, about the width of the letter M.

Do you use spaces with em dashes MLA?

The MLA Style Center

In the MLA Handbook, we show no space before and after dashes because that's the standard format used by publishers in the United States. A student who follows that model will be sure of producing professional-looking work, at least as far as the dashes are concerned.

How do you write an em dash in MLA?

Em dashes are used to set off elements of text with internal punctuation, and en dashes to indicate a numerical range or hyphenate an open compound: The library is organized so that any question—whether technical, reference, or circulation—can be answered by staff. See also “dates” in the Numbers and Dates section.

How do you do the em dash in questions?

Use an em dash with an exclamation point or question mark, but not with a comma, a colon, or a semi-colon (and only rarely with a period).