What do em dashes do?

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 effect do em dashes have?

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.

Are em dashes necessary?

We use em-dashes to add emphasis to the size of the car. It's also important that when you set off a phrase using em-dashes that you used one em-dash immediately after the noun the phrase is describing and one immediately after the phrase. Don't replace the second em-dash (as some tend to) with a comma or semicolon.

Why would a writer want to use the em dash?

Too many afterthoughts or over-emphasizing shows a lack of clarity in your writing, making it dull to read. The reason? Em dashes add effects — asking the reader to pause as you share a thought. For maximum effect, make people pause only when you really want them to.

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 to Use the Em Dash

What effect does the writer achieved by using dashes instead of brackets?

Dashes and parentheses indicate an “aside” to the point you are making in your sentence. Although sometimes considered interchangeable, each serves a specific purpose in your writing. Dashes interrupt your writing to insert an interjection or pause, while parentheses gently add information to your point.

Can you use em dashes for emphasis?

What is the em dash? The em dash is a horizontal line that is traditionally the width of the capital letter 'M'. Em dashes are used to indicate a pause or an emphasis. They often take the place of many other punctuation marks, such as colons, commas, or parentheses.

What is an em dash in word?

You can insert an em dash or en dash in a Microsoft Word document using the Insert Symbol command or by using keyboard shortcuts. An em dash is a long dash which is the width of the letter m. An en dash is the width of the letter n. The dashes appear as follows: Em dash (—)

How do you use em dash in a sentence?

The em dash can be used in place of a colon when you want to emphasize the conclusion of your sentence. The dash is less formal than the colon. After months of deliberation, the jurors reached a unanimous verdict⁠—guilty. The white sand, the warm water, the sparkling sun⁠—this is what brought them to Fiji.

What is em dash example?

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. Please call my supervisor — John Wick — on Friday.

Do em dashes have spaces?

Every style guide I checked, except the AP Stylebook, stated there should be no spaces between an em-dash and the adjacent words. That means it is a style choice. If you're writing for a newspaper, magazine, or website that uses Associated Press style, put in the spaces. Otherwise, leave them out.

What is the difference between an em dash and a hyphen?

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 (—).

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.”

Can you start a line with an em dash?

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 stylistic purpose of the dash use in this sentence?

The dash (—) is a mark of punctuation used to set off a word or phrase after an independent clause or a parenthetical remark (words, phrases, or clauses that interrupt a sentence).

Do you use em dashes for stuttering?

Authors like to use em dashes (—) in all three cases: changes of thought while speaking, stammering, or brief and long pauses.

What dash do you use for stuttering?

There are two pieces of punctuation that will be your companions for these particular speech impediments: the hyphen and the comma. The punctuation you'll use to stutter out a word is the hyphen. After you know that, correctly punctuating for a stutter is as simple as knowing where the word would be stuttered.

How do you show interruptions in writing?

Use an em dash (the longer dash symbol) to indicate an interruption or an abrupt change in thought or to insert supplemental information. If the interruption or insertion comes in the middle of a sentence, add a closing dash to signal the end of the interruption.

What is a closed up em dash?

Dashes that indicate end-of-line interruptions. To indicate that a speaking character has been interrupted, use a CLOSED-UP EM DASH, whether you're publishing in US or UK English.

How do you use an em dash in AP style?

This is the basic difference in how em dashes are rendered in AP style and Chicago style: AP (p. 368): An em dash, like an ellipsis, has a space before and after, except when used to introduce items in a vertical list. When she called her cats — Chardonnay, Patron and Guinness — the neighbors came running.

How do you use an em dash in a story?

Basically when a character is cut off in dialogue (or in some cases, even thoughts), you should indicate that with an em dash. If action interrupts a complete sentence of dialogue, you set it off by em dashes: "You said"--she wrenched open the car door--"that she would be safe!"

Can em dashes replace commas?

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.

Are em dashes used in formal writing?

Yes, the em dash is used in formal writing.

How do you use an em dash UK?

You can type shortcuts so you don't even need to look up from your screen. Make sure you have Number Lock switched on and use these keystrokes: En dash: /Ctrl+Minus/ and /Alt+0150/ Em dash: /Ctrl+Alt+Minus/ and /Alt+0151/

How do you use a dash in academic writing?