How To Use A Pair Of Dashes In A Sentence

Generally speaking the dash does not have a unique role.

How to use a pair of dashes in a sentence. Because this kind of series serves as a dramatic interruption within the sentence and may even have commas you must use the dash before it and after it. When used as parentheses dashes are alternatives to brackets or commas. Use an internal series of appositives or modifiers enclosed by a pair of dashes appositives will rename and modifiers will describe something named elsewhere in the sentence. Dashes are often used to signal an abrupt change in a sentence. A dash is a little horizontal line that floats in the middle of a line of text not at the bottom.

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. Use a longer em dash to join independent clauses with words like and but as or and for. Rather than placing parentheses around a phrase within a statement writers can opt to surround the phrase with an em dash on either end. The name em indicates that the dash is roughly the size of the letter m. Here are some different situations when you can use an em dash.

To properly use a dash in an english sentence start by identifying which dash you should use. If you want to include the parenthetical content more subtly use parentheses. I hope this discussion and these examples show how the use of a pair of dashes can be used to effectively set off and thus bring attention to a statement made within the middle of a lengthy sentence. 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.

The five of us already unashamedly drunk entered the party amidst much pomp and fanfare. In other words if you want to include information that is not absolutely necessary in forming a complete sentence but that is important to the idea you are communicating introduce this information into the main sentence between dashes. An em dash is used to indicate a break in a sentence or question. Note that when dashes are used in place of parentheses surrounding punctuation should be omitted. If you want to draw attention to the parenthetical content use dashes.

A pair of em dashes can replace a pair of parentheses. It is used in the same manner as a parenthetical expression. To set off parenthetical material that you want to emphasize. Dashes have three uses. It s a technique that can be useful in writing an appellate brief where lengthy and complex sentences are not uncommon.