How To Use Dashes In Sentences Examples
Use a dash to indicate a summarising clause.
How to use dashes in sentences examples. Along with its use in place of brackets and colons a dash can be used when writing dialogue for example to show that someone speaking has been interrupted. He prayed to his god to allah. Using dashes in compound adjectives with equal parts a dash can replace a hyphen in a compound adjective with two equal elements. You will get away with a hyphen. To properly use a dash in an english sentence start by identifying which dash you should use.
Here a dash is used in place of brackets. Here are some examples. Twice as long as the en dash the long dash can be used in place of a comma parenthesis or colon to enhance readability or emphasize the conclusion of a sentence. Here are dashes used to add information to the previous clause. After a split second of hesitation the second baseman leaped for the ball or rather limped for it.
Do not use an em dash. For instance em dashes can replace parentheses at the end of a sentence or when multiple commas appear in a parenthetical phrase. Dashes in summaries and additional information. If you re a stickler for the rules use an en dash in your adjective. It is used in the same manner as a parenthetical expression.
Use a dash to indicate an emphasised addition. Use a longer em dash to join independent clauses with words like and but as or and for. Rather than placing parentheses around a phrase within a statement writers can opt to surround the phrase with an em dash on either end. The name em indicates that the dash is roughly the size of the letter m. An em dash is used to indicate a break in a sentence or question.
Em dashes save the day when other punctuation would be awkward. The nato warsaw pact agreement. To show subordinate or additional information within a sentence. Use a dash to show hesitation. Books paper pencils many students lacked even the simplest tools for learning in nineteenth century america.