An em dash is often used
in place of a colon or semicolon to link clauses
, especially when the clause that follows the dash explains, summarizes, or expands upon the preceding clause in a somewhat dramatic way.
Whats an em dash used for?
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).
When can em dash be used?
An em dash can also be used
to mark a break in a sentence in place of a semicolon or colon
. In this context, dashes are often used for emphasis or to signal a change in tone: There was no arguing with her—she was set in her opinion.
Should I use em dash?
We use em-dashes
to add emphasis to the size of the car
. It's also important that when you set off a phrase using em-dashes that you used one em-dash immediately after the noun the phrase is describing and one immediately after the phrase. Don't replace the second em-dash (as some tend to) with a comma or semicolon.
What is the difference between an em dash and a comma?
When to Use Em Dashes
An em dash is most often used to indicate a pause in a sentence.
It's stronger than a comma
, but weaker than a period or semicolon. … Em dashes can also signal a sudden interruption, particularly in dialogue: “Wait!
How do I type an em dash?
To make an em dash,
press and hold Alt, then type 0151
.
What is 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 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.
Can you use an em dash at the end of a sentence?
For instance,
em dashes can replace parentheses at the end of a sentence
or when multiple commas appear in a parenthetical phrase. … They are more formal than dashes. However, em dashes are more emphatic than colons. When you want to generate strong emotion in your writing or create a more casual tone, use em dashes.
Can you use a dash instead of a semicolon?
Semicolons and
dashes are not interchangeable
. Semicolons are used for basically two purposes: (a) To join two clauses that could each stand as an independent sentence, but which you want to tie together. A semicolon is an alternative to having two separate sentences, or two sentences connected with a conjunction.
Can you use a comma after an em dash?
The em-dash does not take comma after it
. That's because, as you said it correctly, it replaces a comma so you don't need to put it again. An em-dash may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought.
How do you use a double dash in a sentence?
Double dashes are
used instead of commas (or parentheses) to interrupt a sentence
. The phrase separated by dashes must be grammatically inessential, by which I simply mean that the sentence will still work without that phrase.
Which dash is about half the length of an em dash?
En dashes
. Despite its name, the en dash has more in common with the hyphen than with the em dash. In fact, it helps to think of the en dash, which is half the length of the em, as a variant of the hyphen.
How do you make an em dash on your phone?
Tap and hold the dash key (“-“)
, for example, and you'll find an em dash (“—”), while long-pressing the dollar sign (“$”) reveals symbols for the euro, the Japanese yen, and the British pound, among others.
