The hyphen, em dash and en dash are everywhere, but most of us don’t know when or why to use them – and different writers use the dashes in different ways. Let’s figure this out! What do they look like? –hyphen –en dash(or ndash, en-dash or n-dash) ...
How to Use the Dash The dash is one of those punctuation marks that many people have seen throughout their lives but have probably given little thought about how it’s really supposed to be used. In fact, if you are reading this article right now, you probably have some questions about ...
The em dash is sometimes considered a less formal equivalent of the colon and parenthesis, but in truth it’s used in all kinds of writing, including the most formal—the choice of which mark to use is really a matter of personal preference. ...
This usage of the en dash can be difficult to understand and get right. If in doubt, use a hyphen or the punctuation checker. British style: En dashes in place of em dashes You might also see an en dash used in the same way as an em dash, especially in British English and in less...
The em dash is longer and generally used to note a break, provide drama, or give an example. Writers use the en dash like this: “To pass the class, Sally needs to score between 80%–90% on the exam.” In contrast, writers use the em dash like this: “Alex needs to pass ...
The em dash is bigger than an en dash, which is the width of the letter N. It is important to be consistent when using dashes. ProWritingAid’s Consistency Report can help you make sure you aren’t using an en dash or double hyphen when you mean to use an em dash. Remember, em...
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...
en dash: when to use each symbol My editor made me add this, so really quickly, here's the difference between an em and en dash: The em dash (—) is used to separate extra information or mark a break in a sentence. For example: A notebook, pen, and laptop—these were all in...
The crowd was Beyoncé Knowles–obsessed. The Em Dash The AP, which does use em dashes, explains that these punctuation marks are used: To signal an abrupt change. To set off a series within a phrase. Before attribution to an author or composer in some formats. ...
There are four main ways of inserting an em dash in Word. 1. Use Word’s Autoformat To insert an em dash, type two hyphens (using the minus key) immediately after the word where you want the em dash to appear. Then, type the next word after the hyphens and press the space bar. ...