How To Use Em Dashes Correctly
Dashes are considered less formal than parentheses.
How to use em dashes correctly. Putting spaces before and after an em dash is a matter of preference. Examine these useful hyphen em dash and en dash examples. Em dashes in place of parentheses. Uses of the em dash. En dashes also known as a short dash are used for ranges of values e g.
Use a longer em dash to join independent clauses with words like and but as or and for. For this usage make sure you use two em dashes. In this case it takes a space on either side. Most often these are ranges of numbers or dates and are used. The longer em dash is used to separate extra information or mark a break in a sentence.
They can be used on their own or in pairs to offset a word or phrase. A pair of em dashes can replace a pair of parentheses. Em dashes set apart parenthetical phrases or clauses in a sentence in this use em dashes are similar to commas and parentheses but there are subtle differences for example em dashes are used when a parenthetical remark contains an internal comma or would otherwise sound awkward if enclosed by commas. They are also more intrusive. Em dashes also known as a long dash are used to make a pause in a sentence followed by a strong point in a situation where using a comma is too weak.
Em dashes are great. Em dashes are often used to set off parenthetical information. If you want to include the parenthetical content more subtly use parentheses. Place em dashes around non essential information or a list in the middle of a sentence like you would with commas. They don t add much if you use them carelessly as i m doing in this sentence.
Use an em dash but use it wisely. But above all be careful to use them thoughtfully. There are three types of dashes in writing used to convey different ideas in an engaging way. To properly use a dash in an english sentence start by identifying which dash you should use. If you want to draw attention to the parenthetical content use dashes.