However, consider the open compound expression apple orchard scented candle.
Some writers and publishers prefer using an en dash for these situations, but a hyphen would work as well. New York and Charles Dickens are called open compounds in these cases because we would not normally hyphenate them. We expect 300–325 people at the reception.Įn dashes also can be used to punctuate open compound adjectives like New York based artist or Charles Dickens inspired writer. The student council will meet Thursday, 3:15–3:45 p.m.ĭuring the years 1999–2016, Joshua lived in Fargo, North Dakota. Like hyphens, they can be used for number ranges (see Rule 6 of Hyphens Between Words). Some writers and publishers prefer spaces around dashes.Įxample: Joe - and his trusty mutt - was always welcome.Įn dashes are shorter than em dashes and longer than hyphens. Proofed’s editors are on hand 24/7 to help you out.Rule 3. Punctuation-particularly the use of dashes-is a common cause of errors in written English. 7) Use a dash to precede expressions which you add to an apparently completed sentence, but which refer. “I’d really like a new fishpond,” said Arthur, “but it’s rather - ” But they never would find out what he was about to say, for, at that moment, the alarm sounded. 6) Use a dash when you abruptly terminate a sentence. If you are writing dialogue and wish to indicate an interruption, you can use an em dash: The hyphen’s lineage is traced to a punctuation mark created by Dionysius Thrax, a Classical Greek grammarian who flourished in the late Hellenistic period when literary criticism and philological scholarship were at their peak. Remember to be consistent in the number of em dashes you use to replace missing words. hyphen, punctuation mark (-) used to connect word elements that are written disjointedly or to divide a word at the end of a line of text. To splash bespatter: dash water on ones face. To remove by striking or wiping: dash tears from ones face. To hurl, knock, or thrust with sudden violence: dashed the cup against the wall. , a dog walker, was a witness to the mugging. To break or smash by striking violently: The ship was dashed upon the rocks. Two or three em dashes can be used to replace an entire word: “Where is the b - hamster?” asked Melanie. Best Option: Use the Em Dash Keyboard Shortcut There is a simple shortcut that includes the dash key on your keyboard that will quickly and easily create an em dash. You can use two em dashes to indicate that a portion of a word has been omitted, whether intentionally or because the word is unknown: The rabbits cost $50 each -not $40 as he’d previously thought.Įm dashes used in this way are considered less formal than colons or semicolons, so try to limit their use in academic writing. It was the best idea he’d had all year -he’d buy himself a cat. A dash is expressed as an 'em dash' ( ) in printing, is expressed in plain text as two hyphens ( - ) and is used in place of a comma, colon or semicolon for greater emphasis. In Place of a Colon or SemicolonĪn em dash can also be used in place of a colon or semicolon if you want to stress the conclusion of a sentence or signal a change of topic: If in doubt about using dashes, check your style guide and, above all, be consistent! 2. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter! In contrast, British English tends to use spaced en dashes for such parenthetical statements. The parrot toy I bought yesterday - the red one with the mirror - was cheaper than I thought. However, the Associated Press Stylebook states that em dashes should be spaced, and most newspapers follow its lead: If you want to be more subtle, use parentheses.Īs in the example above, em dashes are usually written without spaces on either side. They are generally thought to be more emphatic than parentheses, so if you want to make a point, use em dashes. Britannica Dictionary definition of DASH. In this case, em dashes are used in pairs. The parrot toy I bought yesterday -the red one with the mirror- was cheaper than I thought. To Frame Extra InformationĮm dashes are used to frame extra information in sentences where commas or parentheses would otherwise be used: If not, go to the “ insert symbol” command and find the em dash there. Most word processors automatically produce an em dash if you type two hyphens next to each other. There is also the hyphen (-), which is shorter than either dash. The em dash (-), which is the width of a capital “M.”.
DASH MEANING IN WRITING HOW TO
Below, we explain what an em dash is and how to use it in your writing. Confused about em dashes? This post is here to help.
0 kommentar(er)
