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Identifying how an em-dash is used and actually using one in your own writing are two different things, the latter being trickier. Here’s a good strategy to use when trying to decide whether to use em-dashes or parentheses in your writing: If you find yourself wanting to throw in a li...
“Okay, okay. You had a rough day. I get it!” Like any tool, it’s best not to overuse em-dashes in our writing. If we do, our prose can become clunky and unsurprising. The old aphorism rings true here: less is more.
Put a pair of em dashes in the same position in which you would use parentheses. Since they are less formal, fewer dashes than parentheses are found in academic writing. However, they do cause more of an obvious interruption and therefore more emphasis. They can also be used as a sort of...
Em Dash Quiz FAQs on Em Dash 5k SHARES What is an em dash (—) and how do you use it? Em dashes are confusing because they look similar to en dashes and hyphens, but they behave similarly to a range of other punctuation marks depending on the sentence. This can make understanding em...
Use em dashes to set off parenthetical information Em dashes are often used to set off parenthetical information. Using em dashes instead of parentheses puts the focus on the information between the em dashes. For this usage, make sure you use two em dashes. Use one before the parenthetical ...
Learn the difference between em dashes (—) and en dashes (–), with examples and tips on proper usage in this comprehensive punctuation guide.
When should you use a hyphen? Use a hyphen to join words or parts of words. Do you hyphenate numbers? Hyphenate numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine when spelling them out. Hyphenate two-word simple fractions like one-third when spelling them out. Can hyphens and dashes be used the...
When to use an em dash? 1. To replace parentheses Normally, you use parentheses to offset something parenthetical (extra information that is optional to understanding the main idea). Want to add some flair and style to your text? Use em dashes instead, like in this example: ...
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