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Like commas and parentheses, em dashes set off extra information, such as examples, explanatory or descriptive phrases, or supplemental facts. Like a colon, an em dash introduces a clause that explains or expands upon something that precedes it.
May 16, 2019 · 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 basic letter in 9-point type. How to type an em dash. Not all fonts and keyboards allow you to produce a long em dash.
Apr 18, 2019 · Punctuation |. Dashes. The Many Uses of an Em Dash (—) Neha Karve. Updated September 30, 2023. Use an em dash to introduce information that explains, amplifies, and builds upon a previous statement. Examples. I can help you win—if that is what you want. We need more people like her—people who stand up for the truth.
May 31, 2019 · The en dash is approximately the length of the letter N, and the em dash the length of the letter M. The shorter en dash (–) is used to mark ranges and with the meaning “to” in phrases like “Dover–Calais crossing.”
Mar 8, 2022 · 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.
The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons —in each case to slightly different effect. Notwithstanding its versatility, the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence.
Em Dash Shortcut: What Is an Em Dash and How Do You Use It? by Liz Bureman | 48 comments. You're writing an email, essay, or even—hey why not?—a book, and as you write, you think, “I need one of those long dash, double hyphen things. What are those things called, again? And how do I make sure I use it correctly so I don't look like an idiot?”
Aug 30, 2022 · The em dash (—) is a punctuation mark used to interrupt a sentence to add information or show emphasis. It’s called an em dash because it’s as wide as the letter “M.” If you use it correctly, the em dash can be your friend, instead of just an annoying interruption. In this article. Examples of Em Dashes in a Sentence. How To Use an Em Dash.
- The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. Em Dash: What Is an Em Dash? The em dash in American English is a punctuation mark that helps to convey emphasis, introduction, interruption, or a swift change of thought. In doing so, the em dash acts similarly to commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses.
Jun 27, 2022 · An em dash (---) is a special type of dash longer than a hyphen (-) and an en dash (--) that is often used to replace commas, colons, or parenthesis based on context. They add a distinctive, conversational style to writing---like this---while preserving the flow of a sentence.
