How To Use Dashes In Middle Of Sentence
What is an em dash and when should you use it.
How to use dashes in middle of sentence. Dashes can also be used as parenthesis. These dashes not only differ in length. This grammar lesson offers an explanation on the correct use of dashes and gives examples of dashes used in sentences. Here are some different situations when you can use an em dash. Some style and grammar guides even permit you to write a complete sentence within the dashes.
Confusing louie stormed into the room and took four items off the desk a pen a paper clip and two sheets of paper before leaving in a hurry. On both sides of a list in the middle of a sentence when that list contains commas. Dashes are used to extend a sentence to replace colons semicolons or three dots. The words between a pair of dashes may or may not form a complete sentence. Ap style calls for a space on both sides of an em dash but most other styles including mla and apa omit the spaces.
An em dash also called a long dash or thick dash is approximately the width of the letter m which is where it earns its name. Do not confuse a dash with a hyphen which is shorter. 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. Everything i saw in my new neighborhood from the graceful elm trees to the stately brick buildings reminded me of my alma mater. On a windows based system you can form an em dash on a keyboard by holding down the alt key and typing 0151 to create the em dash on a macintosh based system hold down the shift and option keys and press the minus key notes techwalla adding that alternatively you can.
Dashes are often used informally instead of commas colons and brackets. My brothers richard and john are visiting hanoi. Two dashes can emphasize material in the middle of a sentence. Read also about the difference between dashes and hyphens. Use a dash to show a pause or break in meaning in the middle of a sentence.
Use a longer em dash to join independent clauses with words like and but as or and for. To properly use a dash in an english sentence start by identifying which dash you should use. They also serve different functions within a sentence. 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.