Giving additional information or parenthetical information, which could vary from being a few words to complete sentences. Em dashes can do the same job as parenthesis, but not as subtly as they tend to leave an impact and add a casual flair to the writing.

What is the purpose of em dashes?

Em dashes can be used in pairs to mark off additional information that is not essential to understand the sentence. Here they function similarly to parentheses or a pair of commas. An em dash is usually written without spaces on either side, although some style guides do recommend using spaces.

Why do authors put dashes in their writing?

Generally, hyphens are used to link words to make other words or phrases. En-dashes are generally used to indicate ranges, or to act as a substitute in word pairings for “to” and “and”.

What is em dash in literature?

An em dash is a punctuation mark that can be used to replace commas, parentheses, colons, and semicolons. In general, the em dash is seen as being more interruptive or striking than other punctuation, so it is often used stylistically to draw a reader's attention to a particular bit of information.

How do you use an em dash in a novel?

Basically when a character is cut off in dialogue (or in some cases, even thoughts), you should indicate that with an em dash. If action interrupts a complete sentence of dialogue, you set it off by em dashes: "You said"--she wrenched open the car door--"that she would be safe!"

Dashes | Punctuation | Khan Academy

How do you use an em dash in creative writing?

To Indicate an Interruption or Change in Thought

Particularly useful when writing dialogue, an em dash can be used to indicate interjections or changes in thought mid-sentence. This technique is best used in creative or informal writing. Examples: As I was saying—Katie, no, put the scissors down!

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.

How do you use em dash in a sentence?

The em dash can be used in place of a colon when you want to emphasize the conclusion of your sentence. The dash is less formal than the colon. After months of deliberation, the jurors reached a unanimous verdict⁠—guilty. The white sand, the warm water, the sparkling sun⁠—this is what brought them to Fiji.

What is the difference between an em dash and a hyphen?

A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that's used to join words or parts of words. It's not interchangeable with other types of dashes. A dash is longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. The most common types of dashes are the en dash (–) and the em dash (—).

What is the difference between an en dash and an em dash?

The em dash and en dash are both dashes, but there are some key differences between them. The first is the width of the dash. The em dash (—) is the long dash—it's roughly the same length as a capital M. The en dash (–) is shorter, taking up the same space as a capital N.

When should a writer use a dash?

Use dashes to mark the beginning and end of a series, which might otherwise get confused, with the rest of the sentence: Example: The three female characters—the wife, the nun, and the jockey—are the incarnation of excellence. Dashes are also used to mark the interruption of a sentence in dialogue: Example: “Help!

What is the stylistic purpose of the dash use in this sentence?

The dash (—) is a mark of punctuation used to set off a word or phrase after an independent clause or a parenthetical remark (words, phrases, or clauses that interrupt a sentence).

How do you use a dash in a story?

or a sudden break in thought or sentence structure: “Will he—can he—find out the truth?” The dash is used for amplifying or explaining, for setting off information within a sentence, kind of like parentheses or commas can do: “My friends—I mean, my former friends—ganged up on me.”

What does a dash mean in dialogue?

An em dash or a pair of em dashes may indicate a sudden break in thought or sentence structure or an interruption in dialogue. [Emphasis mine.] There's even more explanation: If the break belongs to the surrounding sentence rather than to the quoted material, the em dashes must appear outside the quotation marks.

Do you use em dashes for stuttering?

Authors like to use em dashes (—) in all three cases: changes of thought while speaking, stammering, or brief and long pauses.

Where is the em dash on the keyboard?

3. 1. Inserting an em-dash in Word

1. For Mac: press “option+shift+hyphen key”. ...
2. For desktop PC: press “alt+ctrl+minus” on the numeric keypad (the number section on the far right of your keyboard).

How do you interrupt dialogue in writing?

To Indicate Interrupted Dialogue, Use An Em-Dash

To create interrupted dialogue that everyone will recognize as such, use an em-dash where you want to end the dialogue. You create an em-dash by typing two hyphens, and most word processing programs will tie them automatically into the longer dash.

What effect do dashes have in writing?

Quick Use: Use a dash to connect independent clauses or to inerrupt a main clause in a way that creates dramatic effect. Dashes function in two ways: to signal interruptions in a sentence (basically like parentheses), and to connect independent clauses.

What effect do the dashes have on your reading and understanding of the poem?

They highlight important key words of the poem. The dashes set apart specific words and phrases, forcing the reader to slow down while reading. The dashes compel the reader to contemplate and ponder over the lines.

What rhetorical device uses dashes?

Aposiopesis is a rhetorical term for an unfinished thought or broken sentence. Also known as interruptio and interpellatio. In writing, aposiopesis is commonly signaled by a dash or ellipsis points. Like paralepsis and apophasis, aposiopesis is one of the classical figures of silence.

Is an em dash two hyphens?

On both PCs and Macs, two hyphens (typed with no space before or after either of them) will convert to an em dash—the full-length one that most of us think of when we hear the word “dash.”

Why do em dashes make sentences more interesting to read?

Colons are used to introduce independent clauses or information; information that can be introduced in a separate sentence. Just as I did right now. Colons also help detail a list and draw attention to the information. But em dashes do that better, in part due to their width, which makes them more visually appealing.