Is an em dash professional?

Opting for using a hyphen instead of the en- or em-dash has become a lazy habit of many writers but using en- and em-dashes is easy and results in professionally presented content when used correctly; it's just a matter of getting familiar with the typographical rules, the short-cut keys, and using them!

Can you use an 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 formally use an em dash?

Definition: The em dash (sometimes just called a dash) is used to set off information from the rest of the sentence, and mimics or copycats other more formal punctuation marks. It is often used in place of colons or semicolons. It is also common to use a pair of em dashes to replace parentheses or a pair of commas.

Is a dash formal or informal?

Did you know that dashes are informal punctuation? When writing a formal letter or another kind of document, you should always try to avoid informal punctuation symbols. Dashes are one example; exclamation marks are another.

Can you use em dashes in academic writing?

Although en or em dashes are acceptable in scholarly prose, they are less formal than colons and often suggest an aside or afterthought, so excessive use of this construction (in every sentence, for instance) is poor style, and as a general rule no more than one parenthetical or explanatory clause marked by dashes ...

En Dash vs. Em Dash | Grammar Lessons

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.

Can you use em dash in APA?

There are two types of dashes in APA style: en dashes and em dashes. The en dash is shorter, named after the width of the letter "n," and the em dash is longer, named after the width of the letter "m." Each has distinct uses in writing. For both en dashes and em dashes, do not put any spaces before or after the dashes.

What can I replace an em dash with?

Many word processors will automatically insert an em dash when you type a pair of hyphens. Otherwise, look for an “insert symbol” command. If you are using a typewriter, a pair of hyphens is the closest you can get to an em dash.

What does '/' mean in English?

countable noun. A forward slash is the sloping line '/' that separates letters, words, or numbers.

When can you use an em dash?

Em dashes can be used in pairs to mark off additional information that is not essential to understand the sentence. Here they function similarly to parentheses or a pair of commas. An em dash is usually written without spaces on either side, although some style guides do recommend using spaces.

What is the difference between en dash and em dash?

En dashes are used to show ranges of any kind. This could be in numbers, such as page numbers (55–102) or time (1:00–2:30), or months, such as July–October. Em dashes can be used in place of commas, colons, semi-colons, or parentheses. They are mainly used to set a phrase apart.

What's the difference between a hyphen and an em dash?

A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that's used to join words or parts of words. It's not interchangeable with other types of dashes. A dash is longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. The most common types of dashes are the en dash (–) and the em dash (—).

Can you replace a comma with an em dash?

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.

Should I use an em dash or semicolon?

The difference between an em-dash and a semicolon is the length and purpose of the pause it creates. An em-dash isolates the idea that follows; a semicolon combines two ideas into one. The best way to determine if you can use an em-dash or a semicolon is to try them both out in your sentence, then read it aloud.

What does it mean to YEET?

Yeet is a slang word that functions broadly with the meaning “to throw,” but is especially used to emphasize forcefulness and a lack of concern for the thing being thrown. (You don't yeet something if you're worried that it might break.)

What does 3 dots mean in a sentence?

Ellipsis points are periods in groups of usually three, or sometimes four. They signal either that something has been omitted from quoted text, or that a speaker or writer has paused or trailed off in speech or thought. That's the basics.

What is dot dot dot called?

The ellipsis is also called a suspension point, points of ellipsis, periods of ellipsis, or (colloquially) "dot-dot-dot". Depending on their context and placement in a sentence, ellipses can indicate an unfinished thought, a leading statement, a slight pause, an echoing voice, or a nervous or awkward silence.

What are the 3 uses of the dash?

Can you use a dash in MLA?

MLA style uses en dashes—so called because they are the length of the letter n—in prose after single compound adjectives that are also proper nouns. For example, the phrase “the Academy Award–winning actress” needs an en dash, not a hyphen. Our related post on hyphens and en dashes explains how we use them.

Can you use dashes in APA 7?

Use an em dash to distinguish part of a sentence that either amplifies or digresses from the point. Word usually converts two hyphens that are typed in together as an em dash. Otherwise, you can use the Insert Symbol function in Word to generate an em dash. The symbol can be found in the General Punctuation subset.

Can you use slashes in APA 7?

Use slashes sparingly in APA style. Because a slash could easily be replaced with a conjunction, while also increasing clarity, slash use is limited to specific instances (APA6, p. 95).

Why is it called an em dash?

The em dash, em rule, or mutton dash — is longer than an en dash. The character is called an em dash because it is one em wide, a length that varies depending on the font size. One em is the same length as the font's height (which is typically measured in points).

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.”

Do you need a capital letter after an em dash?

Don't capitalize the first word after an em dash unless the word is a proper noun.

Are dashes allowed in email addresses?

The short answer is yes, email addresses can include these characters, but with some exceptions. The two biggest factors to consider are hyphen placement and email service provider. Let's look at each in a bit more detail.