What are En Dashes and Em Dashes? (with Examples)
What are En Dashes and Em Dashes? (with Examples)
A dash (—) is a punctuation mark with several uses. A dash should not be confused with a hyphen (-) which is used as a joiner in compound adjectives (e.g., first-class restaurant) and compound nouns (e.g., water-bottle).Dashes are slightly longer than hyphens when handwritten. (As most keyboards do not have a dash readily at hand, some writers use two hyphens (--) to represent a dash, but most just use a hyphen.)
Read more about dashes.
Dashes do not have a unique use (i.e., they are used in places where other punctuation marks could be used). For example:
Dashes As Parentheses
Dashes (generally, em dashes) can be used as parentheses. For example:- On Saturday, I took the club secretary (Pat Derbyshire) to Skegness.
- On Saturday, I took the club secretary - Pat Derbyshire - to Skegness. (commas could also be used)
A Dash As a Pause for Effect
A dash (generally, an em dash) can replace three dots when used as a pause for effect. For example:- I eventually found it...in my shoe.
- I eventually found it — in my shoe.
A Dash in Place of a Semicolon
A dash (generally, an em dash) can replace a semicolon used to merge two independent clauses. For example:- He cannot afford it; the flight alone is too much.
- He cannot afford it — the flight alone is too much.
A Dash in Place of a Colon
A dash (generally, an em dash) can be used to replace a colon to introduce an appositive. For example:- She is only interested in one thing: money.
- She is only interested in one thing — money.
A Dash to Replace From..To... or Between...And...
A dash (generally, an en dash) can be used between times and dates. For example:- 1999–2020.
- July–November.
- 14 February–24 February
- 0900–1000.
A Dash in Place of a Hyphen in a Compound Adjective with Equal Parts
A dash (generally, an en dash) can replace a hyphen in a compound adjective with two equal elements. For example:- The India–Pakistan issue
- The Smith–Jones case
A Dash to Credit a Quotation
A dash (always an em dash) can be used to credit a quoation. For example:- "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever
they go." — Oscar Wilde