What is a double hyphen used for?

Double dashes are used instead of commas (or parentheses) to interrupt a sentence. The phrase separated by dashes must be grammatically inessential, by which I simply mean that the sentence will still work without that phrase.

Is it double hyphen the same as an dash?

The term “double hyphen” is also sometimes used to refer to a symbol in written text that is actually called a dash. While a hyphen and a dash both appear quite similar, they are used to express different meanings and for different purposes.

What are two hyphens called?

In the bygone days of typewriters, the em dash was rendered as two hyphens (--), but today modern word processing packages offer a genuine em dash in their special character sets. The em is an expansive, attention-seeking dash. It supplies much stronger emphasis than the comma, colon or semicolon it often replaces.

What does a double hyphen look like?

There are three forms of dashes: em, en, and the double hyphen. The most common types of dashes are the en dash (–) and the em dash (—). 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.

Why do writers use dashes in writing?

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.

Double Hyphen/Dash in SQL-Injection. What are they used for - SQL

How do you use dashes correctly?

Use dashes to mark the beginning and end of a series, which might otherwise get confused, with the rest of the sentence: Example: The three female characters—the wife, the nun, and the jockey—are the incarnation of excellence. Dashes are also used to mark the interruption of a sentence in dialogue: Example: “Help!

What is the difference between a hyphen and a dash?

A hyphen joins two or more words together while a dash separates words into parenthetical statements. The two are sometimes confused because they look so similar, but their usage is different. Hyphens are not separated by spaces, while a dash has a space on either side.

What does a long dash mean in a sentence?

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 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.

What are the examples of hyphenated compound words?

Why is it called an em dash?

In fact, the em dash is named after its length—it's about the same width as the capital letter M. Its alphabetical cousin, the en dash, is about the same width as the letter N. Figuratively speaking, the hyphen pulled the short end of the stick.

What's a Highfin on the keyboard?

Alternatively known as a dash, subtract, negative, or minus sign, the hyphen ( - ) is a punctuation mark on the underscore key next to the "0" key on US keyboards.

Is a dash or hyphen longer?

The dash (—), also called the em dash, is the long horizontal bar, much longer than a hyphen. Few keyboards have a dash, but a word processor can usually produce one in one way or another. If your keyboard can't produce a dash, you will have to resort to a hyphen as a stand-in.

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).

Why do you use dashes instead of commas?

Using a dash in place of a comma

Em dashes can be used in pairs to replace commas when writing a parenthetical or interruptive phrase. The dashes have a slightly more emphatic feel, making the reader focus on the information that is set inside the special marks.

What does '/' mean in English?

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

How do you do an em dash on a PC?

Use built-in keyboard shortcuts.

Em dash (—): Alt+0151. En dash (–): Alt+0150.

How do you use the em dash on a Dell?

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.

How do you use an em dash in the middle of 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 the rule for hyphenating words?

Generally, you need the hyphen only if the two or more words are functioning together as an adjective before the noun they're describing. If the noun comes first, leave the hyphen out. This wall is load bearing. It's impossible to eat this cake because it is rock hard.

How do you know if a word is hyphenated?

Generally, hyphenate two or more words when they come before a noun they modify and act as a single idea. This is called a compound adjective. When a compound adjective follows a noun, a hyphen is usually not necessary.

What words get hyphenated?