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Punctuations

Dashes are used in informal writing to show a range or insert supplemental information into a sentence. The en dash is slightly longer than a hyphen and used to indicate a range of dates, numbers, or locations that can be replaced with "to" or "through". The em dash is the longest dash and used to indicate an abrupt change in thought, insert supplemental information with an opening and closing dash, emphasize statements, set off phrases with commas, and introduce a quotation source listed after the quote. Dashes are an alternative to parentheses, commas, or colons in informal writing.

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30 views2 pages

Punctuations

Dashes are used in informal writing to show a range or insert supplemental information into a sentence. The en dash is slightly longer than a hyphen and used to indicate a range of dates, numbers, or locations that can be replaced with "to" or "through". The em dash is the longest dash and used to indicate an abrupt change in thought, insert supplemental information with an opening and closing dash, emphasize statements, set off phrases with commas, and introduce a quotation source listed after the quote. Dashes are an alternative to parentheses, commas, or colons in informal writing.

Uploaded by

Reza Khosh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Dashes (–) (—)

Dashes are used to show a range or in place of parentheses to show that information has been
inserted into a sentence. Dashes are only used in informal writing; in academic and business
writing, use parentheses, commas, or colons instead. Do not put a space before or after a dash.

EN dash (–)

Rule #1:

Use an en dash (the shorter dash symbol or character in most word processing programs) to show
a range of dates, numbers, or locations. In all uses of the en dash, you should be able to substitute
the word to or through for the dash. NOTE: An en dash is slightly longer than a hyphen.

Examples of Rule #1:

The report covers the period 1998–1999.


Please read pages 70–77 in your text.
The San Diego–Las Vegas flight is on time.

EM dash (—)

Rule #2:

Use an em dash (the longer dash symbol or character in most word processing programs or two
hyphens on a keyboard) to indicate an interruption or an abrupt change in thought or to insert
supplemental information. If the interruption or insertion comes in the middle of a sentence, add
a closing dash to signal the end of the interruption.

Examples of Rule #2:

Last week—I think it was Wednesday—the manual was published and distributed.
Faith, hope, and love—these virtues are very important to me.

Rule #3:

Use an em dash for emphasis in statements or examples.

Example of Rule #3:

The only exception—and it is rare—is when an extreme emergency arises.

Rule #4:

Use an em dash to set off an entire phrase that has commas within it.

Example of Rule #4:

A solid–colored top—such as the black sweater, the brown vest, or the red shirt—would
probably look best with those pants.
Rule #5:

Use an em dash before the source of a quotation when the source is listed after the quotation.

Example of Rule #5:

"Proper words in proper places make the true definition of a style." —Jonathan Swift

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