What is an em dash and when do you use it?

What is an em dash and when do you use it?

1 Answer. An em-dash is typically used as a stand-in for a comma or parenthesis to separate out phrases—or even just a word—in a sentence for various reasons (e.g. a parenthetical; an ersatz-ellipsis). Examples where an em-dash should be used: School is based on the three R’s—reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.

How do you use an 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.

When should dash be used?

Dashes

1. To set off material for emphasis. Think of dashes as the opposite of parentheses.
2. To indicate sentence introductions or conclusions.
3. To mark “bonus phrases.” Phrases that add information or clarify but are not necessary to the meaning of a sentence are ordinarily set off with commas.
4. To break up dialogue.

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

A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that’s used to join words or parts of words. 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 (—).

How do I type an em dash?

To make an em dash, press and hold Alt, then type 0151.

How do I insert an en dash in Word?

Insert an Em or En dash using shortcut keys To create an Em dash, use the shortcut key combination Ctrl + Alt + – . To create an En dash, use the shortcut key combination Ctrl + – . Num Lock must be enabled and you need to use the minus key on the numeric keypad.

How do I insert an en dash in Word for Mac?

Inserting an en-dash in Word. For Mac: press “option+hyphen key”. Word will automatically convert it to an en-dash. On some Mac keyboards, the option key is called “alt”.

Do you capitalize after em dash?

Em dashes are longer and have no spaces before or after—like this. You can make them in word processors by typing two hyphens immediately after a word and not putting a space before the next word. So to recap: don’t capitalize after the dash, and make sure there are no spaces before or after your em dashes.

How do I make a 3 em dash in Word?

Creating a 3-em Dash 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.

What does em dash look like?

Em dashes differ from other hyphens and dashes not only in usage, which we will discuss shortly, but also in appearance. In fact, the em dash is named after its length—it’s about the same width as the capital letter M. Its alphabetical cousin, the en dash, is about the same width as the letter N.

How do you use list in a sentence?

Format for Lists

1. Use a colon to introduce the list items only if a complete sentence precedes the list.
2. Use both opening and closing parentheses on the list item numbers or letters: (a) item, (b) item, etc.
3. Use either regular Arabic numbers or lowercase letters within the parentheses, but use them consistently.

Do you put a semicolon before and in a list?

The general rule is to use the semicolons as you would use commas with ordinary list items: I arrange [X], co-ordinate [Y], and write [Z]. I arrange interviews through phone and film; co-ordinate the editorial team’s travel; and write blog posts, articles, and reviews of local London events.

Do you use colons for lists?

Use a colon to introduce an item or list, if the list comes after a complete sentence or independent clause. For example: There are three things every dog needs: food, water and healthcare.