How To Use A Pair Of Dashes In A Sentence

I hope this discussion and these examples show how the use of a pair of dashes can be used to effectively set off and thus bring attention to a statement made within the middle of a lengthy sentence.

How to use a pair of dashes in a sentence. When used as parentheses dashes are alternatives to brackets or commas. Dashes are considered less formal than parentheses. If you want to draw attention to the parenthetical content use dashes. Rather than placing parentheses around a phrase within a statement writers can opt to surround the phrase with an em dash on either end. It is used in the same manner as a parenthetical expression.

When used to extend a sentence a dash can replace a semicolon a colon or three dots used as a pause for effect. It is usually used as an alternative to another type of punctuation. Generally speaking the dash does not have a unique role. The name em indicates that the dash is roughly the size of the letter m. Dashes have three uses.

It s longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. An em dash also called a long dash or thick dash is approximately the width of the letter m which is where it earns its name. A pair of em dashes can enclose a phrase clause or word mid sentence in the same manner as a pair of commas or parentheses but as stated by mark tredinnick the effect is unique placing emphasis on the isolated parenthetic expression. Because this kind of series serves as a dramatic interruption within the sentence and may even have commas you must use the dash before it and after it. They are also more intrusive.

Dashes are often used to signal an abrupt change in a sentence. A dash is a little horizontal line that floats in the middle of a line of text not at the bottom. Use a longer em dash to join independent clauses with words like and but as or and for. What is an em dash and when should you use it. In other words if you want to include information that is not absolutely necessary in forming a complete sentence but that is important to the idea you are communicating introduce this information into the main sentence between dashes.

An em dash is used to indicate a break in a sentence or question. Use an internal series of appositives or modifiers enclosed by a pair of dashes appositives will rename and modifiers will describe something named elsewhere in the sentence. Here are some different situations when you can use an em dash. It s a technique that can be useful in writing an appellate brief where lengthy and complex sentences are not uncommon. Dashes are used to separate groups of words not to separate parts of words like a hyphen does.