Like commas and parentheses, em dashes
set off extra information
, such as examples, explanatory or descriptive phrases, or supplemental facts. Like a colon, an em dash introduces a clause that explains or expands upon something that precedes it.
How are en dashes used?
An en dash is a mid-sized dash (longer than a hyphen but shorter than an em dash) that is
mostly used to show ranges in numbers and dates
. It can also be used for clarity in forming complex compound adjectives. The en dash derives its name from the fact that it is meant to be the same width as the letter N.
When should you use an em dash?
The em dash can
function like a comma, a colon, or parenthesis
. Like commas and parentheses, em dashes set off extra information, such as examples, explanatory or descriptive phrases, or supplemental facts. Like a colon, an em dash introduces a clause that explains or expands upon something that precedes it.
What is the em dash symbol?
The em dash (—) sets off a word or clause and adds emphasis. Or, it
can signal an interruption
(see our article on interrupting sentences for more on that!) or amplification (“expanding”) of an idea. It's also the longest of the dashes (e.g., hyphen, en dash).
How do you use an em dash example?
Use em dashes in place of commas or parentheses to create a break in a sentence. Examples:
Please call my lawyer—Richard Smith—on Tuesday
. This sentence could also be written with commas or parentheses.
What is the difference between en and em dashes?
Em dashes and en dashes (— vs –) … The en dash is approximately the length of the letter n,
and the em dash the length of the letter m
. The shorter en dash (–) is used to mark ranges. The longer em dash (—) is used to separate extra information or mark a break in a sentence.
How do you use dashes in writing?
A dash is a little horizontal line that floats in the middle of a line of text (not at the bottom: that's an underscore). It's longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. Dashes are
used to separate groups of words
, not to separate parts of words like a hyphen does.
What is dash example?
A dash can be used to replace a colon that offers more information about something previously mentioned in the sentence. For example:
She demanded just one thing from her students: effort
. She demanded just one thing from her students — effort.
What are () called in English?
They can also be used in mathematical expressions. For example, 2{1+[23-3]}=x.
Parentheses
( () ) are curved notations used to contain further thoughts or qualifying remarks. However, parentheses can be replaced by commas without changing the meaning in most cases.
Is an em dash formal?
Em Dash: An em dash is the width of an m.
Use an em dash sparingly in formal writing
. In informal writing, em dashes may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought.
How do you type an em dash without a numpad?
On a keyboard with no numeric keypad,
use a Fn (Function) key combination to type the numbers
. (The Fn key is usually to the right of the left-hand Ctrl key on the keyboard.) For example, on a US keyboard layout, the combination for an en dash should be Alt+Fn+mjim and for an em dash it should be Alt+Fn+mjij.
How long is an em dash?
The character is called an em dash because it is one em wide, a length that varies depending on the font size.
One em is the same length as the font's height
(which is typically measured in points). So in 9-point type, an em dash is nine points wide, while in 24-point type the em dash is 24 points wide.
Is underscore a symbol?
An underscore is a symbol that looks like
“_” a long hyphen positioned at the bottom of the line
. If you've wondered what the same of this symbol is, you know probably: it's called underscore. It might be that you usually not use it but this symbol most works when you write an email or when you deal with computer code.
How do you use two dashes in a sentence?
Two
dashes can emphasize a modifier
. Words or phrases that describe a noun can be set off with dashes if you wish to emphasize them. Example: The fairgrounds—cold and wet in the October rain—were deserted. Example: Nettie—her chin held high—walked out into the storm.
What is a 3 em dash?
Creating a 3-em Dash
Create a 3-em dash by
entering the em dash three times or six hyphens
. You can find the em dash in the symbol drop-down menu in Microsoft Word. Alternatively, press CTRL + ALT + minus key on the numeric keypad, three times. … Add a period after the 3-em dash.
What are dashes in writing called?
The dash (—), also called
the em dash
, is the long horizontal bar, much longer than a hyphen. … If you are writing for publication, you will probably have to use the single hyphen; in other contexts, you should consider using the more vivid double hyphen.
