Em dashes are especially common in informal writing, such as personal emails or blogs, but it’s best to use them sparingly when you are writing formally. Back to Punctuation.
Who created the em dash?
Martha Nell Smith, a professor of English at the University of Maryland and the author of five books on the poet Emily Dickinson (the original em dash obsessive), said that Dickinson used the dash to “highlight the ambiguity of the written word.” “The dash is an invitation to the reader to make meaning,” Dr.
What the heck is an em dash?
Em Dash—Definition
Turns out the em dash (also known as an m dash, m-rule, the long dash, or, in the grammatical slang circles, “mutton”) is just that extended dash you see when there is a break in narration or conversation.
How do you use a colon in a sentence?
To join sentences.
You can use a colon to connect two sentences when the second sentence summarizes, sharpens, or explains the first. Both sentences should be complete, and their content should be very closely related.
How do you make a long dash on Windows?
On Windows it’s… less simple: you need to use an alt code to get an em dash. If you have a numeric keyboard, hold down the Alt key and type 0151 for an em dash or 0150 for an en dash.
Are em dashes still used?
The em dash is sometimes considered a less formal equivalent of the colon and parenthesis, but in truth it’s used in all kinds of writing, including the most formal—the choice of which mark to use is really a matter of personal preference.
What is em dash example?
Use em dashes in place of commas or parentheses to create a break in a sentence. Examples: Please call my lawyer—Richard Smith—on Tuesday. This sentence could also be written with commas or parentheses.
Why do authors use em dashes?
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. … Use one before the parenthetical information and one after it. Putting spaces before and after an em dash is a matter of preference; just be consistent.
When should em dash be used?
We use the em dash to create a strong break in the structure of a sentence. We can use these dashes in pairs, as we would use parentheses—that is, to enclose a word, or a phrase, or a clause (as we’ve done here)—or they can be used alone to detach one end of a sentence from its main body.
How do you use an em dash?
The em dash can be used in place of a colon when you want to emphasize the conclusion of your sentence. The dash is less formal than the colon. After months of deliberation, the jurors reached a unanimous verdict—guilty. The white sand, the warm water, the sparkling sun—this is what brought them to Fiji.
Where is the em dash on a keyboard?
Press Option + Shift + Minus (that’s -, the key right next to 0 at the top of your keyboard). The em dash will appear immediately.
What is the difference between an em dash and a hyphen?
The most obvious difference is the length. Hyphens are shortest, followed by the en dash, and then the em dash. Fun fact: the en dash is the width of the letter “N”, while the em dash is the width of the letter “M”. A hyphen’s main job is to let the reader know that two or more words in a sentence are linked together.
Do you capitalize after an em dash?
A dash doesn’t require any extra thought regarding capitalization. You treat the first word after a dash the same way you’d treat it if it followed a comma.
What is the function of dash?
A dash is a little horizontal line that floats in the middle of a line of text (not at the bottom: that’s an underscore). It’s longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. Dashes are used to separate groups of words, not to separate parts of words like a hyphen does.
What does em dash mean?
The em dash (—) sets off a word or clause and adds emphasis. Or, it can signal an interruption (see our article on interrupting sentences for more on that!) or amplification (“expanding”) of an idea. It’s also the longest of the dashes (e.g., hyphen, en dash).
How do you insert an em dash in an email?
Coding the En Dash and Em Dash in Word
- PC: Control + Alt + Minus.
- PC: Alt + 0151.
- Mac: Shift + Alt + Hyphen.
How do I type an em dash in Windows 10?
For an em-dash, hold down the Alt key and type 0151, then release the Alt key. That’s it!
Can you use em dash in formal writing?
Em Dash: An em dash is the width of an m. Use an em dash sparingly in formal writing. In informal writing, em dashes may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought.
How do you type an em dash on a Chromebook?
If you use a Chrome OS device, while in Google Docs press and hold Shift-Ctrl-U simultaneously, release the keys, type 2014, then press the spacebar. You’ll then see an em dash.
How do you create an em dash in Word?
To insert an em dash, click where you want to insert the em dash and then press Ctrl + Alt + – (minus sign on the numeric keypad). To insert an en dash, click where you want to insert the en dash and then press Ctrl + – (minus sign on the numeric keypad). If this doesn’t work, press NumLock on the numeric keypad.
Where do we use colon?
A colon is used to give emphasis, present dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify composition titles. Emphasis—Capitalize the first word after the colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. (She had one love: Western Michigan University.)
What is colon example?
A colon can be used to introduce a list. … For example, “Here’s a list of groceries I need: a loaf of bread, a quart of milk, and a stick of butter.” The words preceding the colon stand as a complete, grammatically correct sentence.
What is colon in grammar?
Colons are punctuation marks used to signal when what comes next is directly related to the previous sentence. They are used after complete sentences. It is especially important to remember that a colon is not used after a sentence fragment.