There are actually two types of dashes, each with different uses: theem dash—also called the "long dash," according to Oxford Online Dictionaries—and theen dash, which doesn't have another name but falls between the hyphen and em dash in terms of length. The en dash is so named becau...
What Is an Em Dash? The em dash can be used in place of commas, colons, semicolons, and parentheses to increase sentence variety and readability. The em dash triggers readers’ brains to insert a slightly longer pause, which can aid in reading comprehension. It’s a long dash, the len...
Learn what an em dash (—) is, how to use it correctly, its role in punctuation, and tips for avoiding common mistakes. Perfect for both formal and informal writing!
The rules of when and where to use which kind of dash may seem complex and hard to understand, but they don't have to. Here's your guide to how to use em dashes, en dashes, and hyphens correctly.
An ellipsis is a trio of periods (…) that serve as a placeholder for text. Let's look at how to use ellipses in grammar correctly.
The Em Dash — A break in the flow When to Use Em Dash The En Dash — Connecting the Dots When to Use En Dash Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Dashes Bonus Tips In Conclusion What Are Dashes? Dashes are punctuation marks that consist of horizontal lines used to indicate breaks, inter...
If you are writing formal documents or writing for publication, it’s best to use dashes correctly. However… Some people prefer the way a “space-en-dash-space” looks. Sometimes when you use the em-dash, people say, “What is that? I don’t like that big long thing.” I’ve hear...
The en dash is sometimes also used in the same way as an em dash, especially in UK English; in this case, it takes a space on either side. Make sure not to confuse dashes with shorter hyphens (-), which are used to combine words (as in well-behaved or long-running). A hyphen ...
Long (Em) Dashes and Paragraph Spacing Keep in mind that it is common when printing dialogue in Spanish to dispense with quote marks entirely and use a long dash ("—"), sometimes known as an em dash or "raya"in Spanish, to indicate the beginning and end of the quotation or a change...
How to use em dashes Em dashes are used in much the same way as commas but indicate a harder break in the sentence. They are the longest dash and generally used sparingly to emphasize an important piece of information or to provide clarity to a long, complicated sentence. For example: ...