How To Use The Dashes In Writing
The reason for using an en dash with such compounds is to send a subtle signal to the reader that the prefix belongs to the entire compound not just the first word of it.
How to use the dashes in writing. It should be reserved to emphasize a limited number of important points. The em dash is the longest of the dashes and is used to indicate a pause for added effect emphasis an added thought or a change in thought. The material inside the dashes relates to the information in the rest of the sentence but it acts as an interruption to the main point that you re making. They are really f d up. Some style and grammar guides even permit you to write a complete sentence within the dashes.
Place em dashes around non essential information or a list in the middle of a sentence like you would with commas. Everything i saw in my new neighborhood from the graceful elm trees to the stately brick buildings reminded me of my alma mater. Take it out and the sentence makes sense. To properly use a dash in an english sentence start by identifying which dash you should use. To create an em dash this way use 2014 alt x type 2014 then hit the alt key and keep it pressed down while hitting the x key then release both keys at the same time.
It s longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. The en dash which is the width of the letter n. The words between a pair of dashes may or may not form a complete sentence. They can be used on their own or in pairs to offset a word or phrase. Use a longer em dash to join independent clauses with words like and but as or and for.
The two most common dashes are the em dash and the en dash. Em dashes so called because they are at least historically the width of the character m are used for emphasis or interruption. Typically used for offensive words i will look the children. Use a dash to show that letters or words are missing. This works in microsoft word but not google docs.
Although many people call the hyphen a dash dash refers to another group of horizontal lines in text. Dashes are usually considered to be informal. Dashes are used to separate groups of words not to separate parts of words like a hyphen does. The information inside the dashes is off topic. You might want to replace the use of a dash with a set of parentheses or even commas.