How to use a dash in a sentence

Paired dashes are used to parenthetically enclose elements of a sentence: His marathon training was intense—if not grueling and downright obsessive—but in the end it paid off. For clarity, restrict your use of dashes to one single dash or one paired dash in a sentence. Sometimes, this will require varying punctuation depending on your ...

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Catholic activist in Belarus was handed a three-year prison sentence Friday on charges that Western diplomats have denounced as … Learn how to use dashes to set off an idea, a list, a definition, or an emphatic repetition within a sentence. See examples, rules, and tips for using dashes effectively and avoiding common mistakes. 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. Different situations require different types of dashes. Let’s take a look at how these two dashes are used and explore some examples of when to use em ...Em dash also replaces a colon in a sentence. Example: He was thinking of buying two things: a phone and a notebook. He was thinking of buying two things – a phone and a notebook. En dash: En dash is much smaller than em dash and is used entirely differently. En dash is used to represent the time spans and range of numbers. Example:If you’re looking for a way to save money on your next home renovation project or commercial build-out, then look no further than Dash Door. In this article, we’ll take a closer lo...Dashes – In a Nutshell. A dash can be used in writing to show additional information, specify definitions and tones, and highlight missing information. Dashes can be placed in different positions within a sentence, i.e., the beginning, middle, or end. They can be used in place of commas, semicolons and parentheses where applicable.

A dash is a horizontal line that can indicate a range or a pause in a sentence. Learn the difference between em dashes and en dashes, and how to use them correctly in different contexts. See examples of how to use dashes in sentences with …Commas. These are your workhorses. They work with appositives, which define or clarify nouns such as proper names and locations, and with nonrestrictive elements, which often begin with “who” or “which.”. With comma clauses, as with parentheticals, the clause can be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence.In recent years, camera dash technology has become increasingly popular among drivers. This technology involves installing a small camera on the dashboard of a car to record everyt...May 23, 2023 · A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that’s used to join words or parts of words. It’s not interchangeable with the various dashes. Hyphens are often used in compound modifiers when the modifier comes before the word it’s modifying. If you’re not sure whether a compound word has a hyphen, check your preferred dictionary. The Dash poem, written by Linda Ellis, has become a powerful source of inspiration for many people around the world. It reminds us that what truly matters in life is not just the y...Confusing dashes with hyphens: Dashes and hyphens may look similar, but they serve different purposes. Hyphens are used to join words or parts of words, while dashes are used to set off or emphasize information within a sentence. It is crucial to understand this distinction and use each punctuation mark correctly. 3.The most common way to use a semicolon is to help join closely connected ideas in a sentence. These sections must be independent and complete sentences, but closely linked in some way: Sandip ...Em dashes for interruptions: Use em dashes when you are interrupting the main idea of a sentence. If the interruption occurs at the end of the sentence, use a single em dash. If …

May 16, 2019 · The long dash is the widest of the three horizontal marks that may be used in the middle of a sentence. It is wider than an en dash (–) or a hyphen (-). The term “em dash” comes from the field of typography—an “em” is a width equivalent to the height of a given font. Thus, an em dash in 9-point type is as long as the height of a ... Oct 24, 2020 · While the en dash has a more technical use, the em dash is mostly used at a writer’s discretion and indicates a break or pause in the sentence. A hyphen is the smallest (-), followed by the en dash (–), and, finally, the em dash, which is the longest (—). An en dash is applied without any space before and after it. May 9, 2023 ... Use one em dash to set off a phrase or clause at the end of a sentence. ... If you're not sure about the details, look at the illustrations in the ...Use a hyphen to show crying or stammering when narrating. For example: “I’m s-s-sorry I broke the c-car.” What Can I Use Instead of Hyphen? You can use other symbols or punctuation marks instead of a hyphen, depending on the context. Colon or Dash. Never use a hyphen to denote a break or pause in your sentence. Instead, try a colon or a ...Punctuation establishes the cadence of a sentence, telling readers where to pause (comma, semicolon, and colon), stop (period and question mark), or take a detour (dash, parentheses, and square brackets). Punctuation of a sentence usually denotes a pause in thought; different kinds of punctuation indicate different kinds and lengths of pauses ...

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Sep 15, 2016 ... Depending on the sentence, the em-dash can have a similar function to parentheses, colons, commas, and even semicolons. But an em-dash is not ...En dash. Use an en dash to separate out a phrase within a sentence – perhaps to break up the text, or add emphasis – instead of commas or brackets. You can also use a dash on its own to mark a break in a sentence – try it instead of a semicolon. Always use an en dash, not a hyphen, in a range like 30–40 (only use dashes if you’re ...Learn how to use dashes in five ways: to show ranges, to divide compound adjectives, to extend sentences, to offset parentheses, and to credit quotations. Find out the difference between em dash, en dash, …

In American English, em dashes are commonly used to indicate interruptions, set off parenthetical phrases, or emphasize a point. They are often preferred over parentheses or commas for these purposes. United Kingdom. In British English, em dashes are less frequently used compared to parentheses or commas.How to Use (Not Abuse) Parentheses. Like some other punctuation marks, parentheses are used in prose to set apart some text in a sentence, such as an explanation, observation, aside, or digression. Text set off by parentheses is not necessarily grammatically connected to the rest of the sentence. Nabokov is the author of novels (the best known ...1. Use a comma to indicate a break or pause within a sentence. The comma (",") is a very versatile punctuation mark. There are dozens of situations that might require the use of a comma. One frequent case is the appositive -- a break within a sentence that supplements and adds information to the subject.An en dash is a medium-width dash used mainly to show a range ( the years 2001–05 ). It can also sometimes replace the word to ( the Boston–Seattle flight) or be used in place of a hyphen to show a connection across words ( post–World War I alliances, US–Mexico relations ). The en dash (–), also called the en rule, takes its name from ...The hyphen (-) is different from en dash (–) and em dash / long dash (—). It is a symbol (-) that is slightly narrower than an en dash (–). The em dash (—) is twice as long as the en dash (–). They are different in appearance and usage. A hyphen is a punctuation mark with three main uses. Many people confuse this punctuation mark with ...On a Mac computer, the em dash is made by pressing ALT + SHIFT + the hyphen key, located to the right of the zero. Using an em dash We use the em dash in sentences to create a strong break to show an interruption, a change of thought, or to show emphasis. The em dash can be used in place of some commas, parentheses, colons, and …A dash is an adaptable punctuation mark that can be used to indicate parenthesis within a sentence and can be used instead of a bracket or a colon. The main use of a dash in English is to separate or connect two independent clauses. A clause is a phrase that’s made up of a subject, a verb and any modifying words, and dashes can create a ...Use a hyphen to show crying or stammering when narrating. For example: “I’m s-s-sorry I broke the c-car.” What Can I Use Instead of Hyphen? You can use other symbols or punctuation marks instead of a hyphen, depending on the context. Colon or Dash. Never use a hyphen to denote a break or pause in your sentence. Instead, try a colon or a ...Apr 18, 2019 · The em dash helps separate the parts of a sentence. It is a versatile punctuation mark that can take the place of commas, parentheses, colons, and semicolons in sentences. Infographic: How to use an em dash. An em dash can also mark dialogue, signify an interruption, indicate a sudden break in thought, and introduce a list. 1 Use semicolons to connect related independent clauses. You can use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses. Let’s put that another way. The group of words that comes before the semicolon should form a complete sentence, the group of words that comes after the semicolon should form a complete sentence, and …

Using the en dash instead of other punctuation marks: Sometimes, writers mistakenly use the en dash when other punctuation marks would be more appropriate. For example, using an en dash instead of a colon or a comma can lead to confusion and disrupt the flow of the sentence.

Em dashes for interruptions: Use em dashes when you are interrupting the main idea of a sentence. If the interruption occurs at the end of the sentence, use a single em dash. If … An ellipsis, on the other hand, signals a brief pause, a wavering, or an omission. It might also convey a trailing thought at the end of a sentence. In reinforcing main ways that the marks differ, we will refer to our two chief supporting style guides, The Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style. Examples of Em Dash Usage. 1. Introduce (and emphasize) more detail at the end of a sentence without using a colon or semicolon. Example. World War II (1939 ...The Dash poem, written by Linda Ellis, has become a powerful source of inspiration for many people around the world. It reminds us that what truly matters in life is not just the y... Em dashes and en dashes have different uses, so we’ll be sharing different examples of each. Let’s go with the em dash first. Em dash in place of parentheses. You can add emphasis to parts of your writing by using an em dash in place of parentheses in a sentence. Em dash with lists. An em dash can be used to draw attention to a list. Truckers are the lifeblood of American commerce. They take goods across the country, and they make it easier for all of us to be able to buy what we want and need. Truck drivers ha...Dashes and parentheses are interruptions within the sentence that can provide extra information. In many cases, they may be necessary and valuable additions. Brackets are used only when inserting material into parentheses or around a word or phrase of your own that is added to a quotation. Beginning writers sometimes overuse these punctuation ...A dash is a form of punctuation that can signify different meanings in English. Learn the four basic types of dashes (figure, en, em, and swung) and their functions in sentences with … How to Properly Use an En Dash. The en dash is shorter than the em dash but longer than the hyphen. Like em dashes, they have multiple uses. 1) Indicating a Span or Range between Numbers, Dates, and Times. An en dash should be read as “to” or “through” when it is being used to represent a span or range between numbers, dates, and times.

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(The dash separates the elements in a range (in this case, a date range). The dash is used instead of a "from-to" construction.) I demand just one thing — effort. (Here, the dash separates the sentence. It is, in fact, being used like a colon.) So, dashes and hyphens look similar, but they have very different functions in writing. The colon makes it feel like a definition, the parentheses make it feel like an aside, the comma doesn't draw much attention to the point, and the dash makes it seem important or dramatic.Dashes can act like parentheses, loosely connect two thoughts, or mark a break in a sentence. Using parentheses and dashes properly adds structure to your sentences and helps you avoid the absent ...In American English, em dashes are commonly used to indicate interruptions, set off parenthetical phrases, or emphasize a point. They are often preferred over parentheses or commas for these purposes. United Kingdom. In British English, em dashes are less frequently used compared to parentheses or commas.A hyphen connects two elements that are joined together to function as one word. Here are some examples of hyphenated words: best-seller, two-year-old, pre-Hanukkah, and anti-racist. An em dash cannot be used as a hyphen (and a hyphen, likewise, cannot be used as a hyphen). An ellipsis, on the other hand, signals a brief pause, a wavering, or an omission. It might also convey a trailing thought at the end of a sentence. In reinforcing main ways that the marks differ, we will refer to our two chief supporting style guides, The Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style. Mar 8, 2022 · Em dashes are used to replace commas, parentheses, colons, and semicolons. Learn how to use em dashes in a sentence with these examples and best practices. Dashes: When to use Dashes. Dashes are a punctuation mark. It sets off information that interrupts the flow of a sentence. Writers use dashes in a lot of different situations. For example, a sudden break is an instance of when to use dashes. They may also use dashes in dialogue to show when one character’s speech is interrupted by another’s.In a recipe, a “dash” indicates about 1/16 of a teaspoon. Many old recipes have non-standard measurements that were understood during the original era but are sometimes confusing t...A hyphen connects two elements that are joined together to function as one word. Here are some examples of hyphenated words: best-seller, two-year-old, pre-Hanukkah, and anti-racist. An em dash cannot be used as a hyphen (and a hyphen, likewise, cannot be used as a hyphen). ….

The hyphen is shorter than the en dash and the em dash. Here are some examples of words and phrases that are usually written with a hyphen. brother-in-law A dash is a punctuation mark that is used to indicate a sudden break or interruption in a sentence. It is represented by a horizontal line, longer than a hyphen, and can be written as either an en dash (–) or an em dash (—). The use of the dash adds emphasis, provides emphasis, or introduces additional information in a sentence. Commas are usually used to indicate appositives, but if an appositive itself contains commas, the sentence can get confusing. Using two em dashes can add clarification. To Highlight a List. When a sentence begins with a list, an em dash is better suited for separating the list than a colon.7 Examples Of Dash Used In a Sentence For Kids. Dash to the playground and have fun! Let’s dash to the front of the line. Use a dash of salt to make the food tasty. The speedy rabbit can dash quickly. The car can dash down the road. A dash of color can make the drawing beautiful. Dash through the finish line to win the race!Common uses of colons. Using a colon in a sentence before a list gives the impression that the colon means “thus,” “which is” or “which are.”. The colon in the next example isn’t used to announce a list, like the one above. This one is added for clarification. Colons can also introduce a quotation in your writing. Here’s an example.The em dash is perhaps the most commonly used synonym for the long dash. It is a versatile punctuation mark that can be used to indicate a break in thought, emphasize a point, or set off a parenthetical phrase. The em dash is longer than a hyphen and creates a stronger interruption in the flow of a sentence.Em dashes are often used to set off parenthetical information. Using em dashes instead of parentheses puts the focus on the information between the em dashes. For this usage, make sure you use two em dashes. Use one before the parenthetical information and one after it. Putting spaces before and after an em dash is a matter of preference; just ...In this case, two em dashes are needed—but avoid using more than two em dashes per sentence, as this can result in more confusion than clarification. Example: I saw Dr. Smith—our family dentist—at the supermarket today. Note that this sentence could also be written using commas: I saw Dr. Smith, our family dentist, at the supermarket today.Em dashes can replace commas in a sentence: ️ They left at nightfall – or, rather, they were forced to. 2. Em dashes can set a strong emotional tone: ️ They were waiting for the two: the manager and the boss. 3. Em dashes can replace omitted words: ️ John ———, the witness, refused to believe the evidence. 4. How to use a dash in a sentence, A dash is a form of punctuation that can signify different meanings in English. Learn the four basic types of dashes (figure, en, em, and swung) and their functions in sentences with …, Getting rid of the prepositions forces you to tighten up the sentence. The result is shorter, more direct, and easier to understand: Changing careers makes many people anxious. Here’s another example: Alex hit the baseball up over the fence. Get rid of the up. You don’t need it: Alex hit the baseball over the fence., Use Dashes When You Wish to Emphasize a Parenthetical Element. Commas are usually sufficient punctuation to set off parenthetical elements. In some instances, however, you can use a dash instead, especially if you want to make the insertion more noticeable: The building next to ours–the one with the all-cedar exterior–was engulfed in flames., In American English, em dashes are commonly used to indicate interruptions, set off parenthetical phrases, or emphasize a point. They are often preferred over parentheses or commas for these purposes. United Kingdom. In British English, em dashes are less frequently used compared to parentheses or commas., Are you tired of spending hours rewriting sentences to make them sound better? Look no further. In this article, we will provide you with valuable tips on how to find the best sent..., The em dash is perhaps the most commonly used synonym for the long dash. It is a versatile punctuation mark that can be used to indicate a break in thought, emphasize a point, or set off a parenthetical phrase. The em dash is longer than a hyphen and creates a stronger interruption in the flow of a sentence., May 16, 2019 · The long dash is the widest of the three horizontal marks that may be used in the middle of a sentence. It is wider than an en dash (–) or a hyphen (-). The term “em dash” comes from the field of typography—an “em” is a width equivalent to the height of a given font. Thus, an em dash in 9-point type is as long as the height of a ... , Use hyphens to show word breaks in publishing. In printed matter, a hyphen is used to show word division between the end of a line and the beginning of the next line. When proofreading already formatted documents, a proofreader’s job is to ensure that words are broken in the appropriate places. It’s better to make the break between syllables., Use 2 em dashes for some quoted speech and deliberate omissions in text. To show a sudden interruption in quotations and reported speech, use 2 em dashes in a row. The 2 em dashes follow a space. Ellipses cannot be used for this purpose, as they show the writer has deliberately left out quoted speech. Read related guidance on ellipses., twenty-five. hyphen. 11–25. en-dash. Well—yes. em-dash. Let’s make that even more clear. The en dash is about as wide as an uppercase N; the em dash is as wide as an M. (This image was made with PowerPoint and Photoshop; the relative sizes of the dashes look right, however, the en dash and em dash don’t exactly match the width of the ..., The long dash is the widest of the three horizontal marks that may be used in the middle of a sentence. It is wider than an en dash (–) or a hyphen (-). The term “em dash” comes from the field of typography—an “em” is a width equivalent to the height of a given font. Thus, an em dash in 9-point type is as long as the height of a ..., The em dash is perhaps the most commonly used synonym for the long dash. It is a versatile punctuation mark that can be used to indicate a break in thought, emphasize a point, or set off a parenthetical phrase. The em dash is longer than a hyphen and creates a stronger interruption in the flow of a sentence., Dashes can act like parentheses, loosely connect two thoughts, or mark a break in a sentence. Using parentheses and dashes properly adds structure to your sentences and helps you avoid the absent ..., Geometry Dash is a popular rhythm-based platform game that has gained a massive following since its release in 2013. With its addictive gameplay and challenging levels, it has beco..., En dash. Use an en dash to separate out a phrase within a sentence – perhaps to break up the text, or add emphasis – instead of commas or brackets. You can also use a dash on its own to mark a break in a sentence – try it instead of a semicolon. Always use an en dash, not a hyphen, in a range like 30–40 (only use dashes if you’re ..., Colons (:) introduce clauses or phrases that serve to describe, amplify, or restate what precedes them. Often they are used to introduce a quote or a list that satisfies the previous statement. For example, this summary could be written as "Colons can introduce many things: descriptors, quotes, lists, and more." , May 31, 2019 · The shorter en dash (–) is used to mark ranges and with the meaning “to” in phrases like “Dover–Calais crossing.”. The longer em dash (—) is used to separate extra information or mark a break in a sentence. The en dash is sometimes also used in the same way as an em dash, especially in UK English; in this case, it takes a space on ... , In this sense, you can say that writers use hyphens to join words, creating versions of new glued-together words. In other cases, a hyphen is a necessity to tell your reader the words go together as in glued-together that I used in …, Those long straight lines draw your eye and hold your attention. But long dashes aren’t just show-offs. They insert information into a sentence and introduce lists. Short dashes — technically, en dashes — aren’t as showy as their wider cousins, but they’re still useful. Short dashes show a range or connect words when the word to or ..., A hy­phen is usu­ally very short (it has its own Uni­code char­ac­ter, but you can use the hy­phen-minus in­stead be­cause it looks the same), a minus is of the same width as the dec­i­mal dig­its (and is some­times a lit­tle bit higher than the oth­ers), an en-dash takes ap­prox­i­mately the width of the let­ter “N” or ... , Explanations of Dash Examples:-. Here we will see 41+ Dash Examples with their detailed explanations precisely. 1. Ashutosh Bera—assistant professor—in English. The above example shows how the same sentence can use either comma or Em Dash in this sentence to emphasis., In this sense, you can say that writers use hyphens to join words, creating versions of new glued-together words. In other cases, a hyphen is a necessity to tell your reader the words go together as in glued-together that I used in …, An en dash is a medium-width dash used mainly to show a range ( the years 2001–05 ). It can also sometimes replace the word to ( the Boston–Seattle flight) or be used in place of a hyphen to show a connection across words ( post–World War I alliances, US–Mexico relations ). The en dash (–), also called the en rule, takes its name from ..., Punctuation establishes the cadence of a sentence, telling readers where to pause (comma, semicolon, and colon), stop (period and question mark), or take a detour (dash, parentheses, and square brackets). Punctuation of a sentence usually denotes a pause in thought; different kinds of punctuation indicate different kinds and lengths of pauses ..., Learn the most common uses of semicolons (;), colons (:), and dashes (—) in writing. See examples of how to use them correctly and avoid common mistakes. Find out the difference between semicolons and commas, colons and periods, and dashes and hyphens. , Apr 18, 2019 · The em dash helps separate the parts of a sentence. It is a versatile punctuation mark that can take the place of commas, parentheses, colons, and semicolons in sentences. Infographic: How to use an em dash. An em dash can also mark dialogue, signify an interruption, indicate a sudden break in thought, and introduce a list. , Where should the dash(es) go in this sentence? Lucy the girl sitting over there eating an ice cream cone is my best friend. Choose 1 answer: Choose 1 answer: (Choice A) Lucy—the girl sitting over there eating an ice cream cone is my best friend. A., Use Dashes When You Wish to Emphasize a Parenthetical Element. Commas are usually sufficient punctuation to set off parenthetical elements. In some instances, however, you can use a dash instead, especially if you want to make the insertion more noticeable: The building next to ours–the one with the all-cedar exterior–was engulfed in flames., May 16, 2019 · The long dash is the widest of the three horizontal marks that may be used in the middle of a sentence. It is wider than an en dash (–) or a hyphen (-). The term “em dash” comes from the field of typography—an “em” is a width equivalent to the height of a given font. Thus, an em dash in 9-point type is as long as the height of a ... , Getting rid of the prepositions forces you to tighten up the sentence. The result is shorter, more direct, and easier to understand: Changing careers makes many people anxious. Here’s another example: Alex hit the baseball up over the fence. Get rid of the up. You don’t need it: Alex hit the baseball over the fence., The best time to use an em dash is when the sentence or idea needs emphasis. Em dashes signal to the reader that the idea, phrase, or words have greater importance. The em dash typically amplifies ..., Jun 1, 2022 · First, one is longer: The em dash (—) → which is like two hyphens joined together. The en dash (–) → which is like a slightly longer hyphen. If it helps, picture the em dash superimposed on the letter “M” and the en dash superimposed on the “N.”. One of these is clearly shorter than the other. , Use hyphens to show word breaks in publishing. In printed matter, a hyphen is used to show word division between the end of a line and the beginning of the next line. When proofreading already formatted documents, a proofreader’s job is to ensure that words are broken in the appropriate places. It’s better to make the break between syllables.