The dash is a family of punctuation marks which are not part of a word, but resemble long hyphens in appearance.
1
vote
2answers
99 views
Should you use en dashes in acronyms?
For terms like liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry that typically use an en dash rather than a hyphen, would an en dash still be used in the acronym, LC–MS? Or would we only need a hyphen there, ...
-3
votes
1answer
83 views
“Effective in” or “Effective at” [closed]
Two questions:
Should the following read "most effective at obtaining donations" or "most effective in obtaining donations?"
Is the dash after "future emails" a correct use of the dash or should it ...
-1
votes
2answers
80 views
punctuation of “damned if you do and damned if you don't” [duplicate]
Personally, I think quotes are best, but lately, I'm hearing that quotes are incorrect and dashes should be used between the words. What say you?
damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don't
or
...
4
votes
2answers
188 views
When to choose em dash over parenthesis for parenthetical phrases?
According to Wikipedia:
The em dash, m dash, m-rule, or "mutton" (—) often demarcates a break
of thought or some similar interpolation stronger than the
interpolation demarcated by parentheses
...
0
votes
2answers
69 views
Asymmetric spacing of dashes in interpolated phrases
I have come across a dash-spacing style that I haven't seen anywhere else, and I'm wondering where it may come from. The person who writes in this style asserts that he has learnt it in school in the ...
2
votes
2answers
141 views
How should I parse a sentence that’s broken up with a dash?
What is the correct "parsing" of this sentence:
Futuristic but not out of time — like an artifact from the 1960’s, someone trying to imagine what 2013 would be like.
I came to two ...
0
votes
1answer
463 views
'Sort out' or 'sought out', which one is correct?
I was reading an apology letter of Shirley Hornestein and found it very interesting, honestly. But there are few points on my mind. Please help me to understand:
Is it sort out or sought out?
...
2
votes
6answers
231 views
Em dash vs semicolon: which is more appropriate in the following examples?
I am very confused by these, and even when I understand other people's usage of them I find it difficult to know when to employ them myself. For this reason, I am trying to make my own examples and ...
3
votes
1answer
185 views
The usage of en dash between two complete dates
Is it necessary to put a space before and after the symbol en dash (–) put between two complete dates?
Example:
January 1, 2013 – January 1, 2014
3
votes
3answers
236 views
What is a correct punctuation for a sentence starting with “One more thing”?
In the following sentence what would be the correct punctuation
One more thing don't tell anyone about our conversation.
Should "One more thing" be separated by comma, dash or colon? Or perhaps ...
3
votes
2answers
142 views
Punctuation following an interruption with a dash
I am not sure what the correct punctuation to use when ending a clause that was introduced with a dash when the next character in the main sentence is a punctuation mark.
Take the following contrived ...
1
vote
1answer
751 views
“40-50 years old” vs. “40-50 year olds” when referring to a group
In formal research, which is more correct, and why:
the group of 40-50 years old
OR
the group of 40-50 year olds
In any case the phrase in bold is to be treated as a noun only, as in:
The ...
-2
votes
2answers
84 views
What is the best way and what are the differences to introduce a “pause explanatory” phrase inside another one? [closed]
In this example:
bla bla bla phrase such as even if something like this doesn’t exist bla bla bla.
What can I use to inject my phrase in the middle of the sentence?
,phrase, (commas)
;phrase; ...
4
votes
2answers
5k views
How to write “till now” in a résumé? [closed]
I am writing a résumé. I want to specify that I started my education in 2009 and as of now I am at the 4th grade (in other words, still learning), so how should I specify that in résumé:
2009 - ...
1
vote
2answers
706 views
What's the double hyphen after greetings in emails?
I usually see just format in the emails I receive daily:
Hello Dorian--
I'm calling you in regard with the something...
Thanks,
I see comma after the greetings too but I am not sure ...
1
vote
0answers
66 views
Significance of text after dashes [closed]
How do I comprehend the lines after dashes?
For example:
The ice shelf cores were long enough to penetrate through glacial ice—which is formed from the compaction of snow and contains air ...
-1
votes
1answer
94 views
Using dashes when omitting verb [closed]
The claim start date is reported as the start date of the episode and the end date as the first billable visit.
OR
The order start date is reported as the episode date and the end date--as the date ...
0
votes
0answers
40 views
What kind of dash character should I use at the end of a famous saying to mark of the author? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Appropriate dash to use when attributing a quotation
What kind of dash character should I use at the end of a famous saying to mark of the author? Should I use "en dash" ...
0
votes
1answer
880 views
“—” vs. “;” vs. “,” vs. “()” — what's the difference? [closed]
All of these punctuation marks seem to have the same purpose.
Is there any general guideline for picking one for each use case?
2
votes
1answer
199 views
Parentheses vs. commas vs. hyphen or dash in a list of people
In a list of people published in a bulletin, which is correct?
We continue in prayer for: Amy B.(cancer), T. Jones(nephew of Tim), Lillie (on the death of her brother), Sally(Nursing Home),
...
1
vote
1answer
368 views
More dastardly dashes: what are the 'horizontal bar' and 'figure dash' characters for? [closed]
Having read another excellent answer regarding the use of horizontal line-like characters, I'm interested to know the meanings of the horizontal bar and figure dash.
In the other answer linked above, ...
0
votes
1answer
356 views
Which dash should be used to indicate “None”, “No Answer”, or “Not Applicable”? [closed]
Consider the following overview of an individual's profile:
Name: John Smith
Age: 29
Marital status: Single
Spouse's Name: -
The dash given as "Spouse's Name" indicates that there is no ...
2
votes
4answers
616 views
Use of dash in a sentence
Is the dash an acceptable punctuation in this sentence?
Dances, parties, luncheons -- all these should be part of your senior year.
1
vote
3answers
199 views
Is “non-freedom” correct?
I need to write something like
Students were silenced because of social media posts: a case of non-freedom.
That isn't the exact context, but I need to know if non-freedom is correct.
2
votes
3answers
688 views
Is an ellipsis interchangeable with an em dash?
I know than an ellipsis can be used to show a broken sentence, the same way an em dash can be used. What I don't know is that if the two are interchangeable and it is writer preference or if different ...
2
votes
1answer
177 views
Doubly hyphenated words
Consider the word quasi-first-class. Are the hyphens used correctly? Should the two hyphens be of different length to denote the distinction of the hyphenation? Is there a general rule to deal with ...
-2
votes
1answer
172 views
Why a dash in this example? [closed]
I am reading an article by Bill Keller (The Times). He wrote:
Through the years, The New York Times’s coverage of the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican has received sharp criticism from ...
1
vote
1answer
195 views
What's the difference between - and — in a phrase? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
When do I put a - in a sentence? Is it a more powerful comma? With a bigger pause?
2
votes
4answers
360 views
How to write dashes in “a 2-4-room-apartment”?
I want to write in the announcement a description of an eventual apartment, which I am searching as a rental. I am interested in apartments with 2, 3, or 4 rooms. How should I write the compound ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
'2-3' or 'two to three' proper use
In the following sentence is the use of '2-3' appropriate for a PowerPoint presentation or should it be 'two to three'?
Research shows that a deaf child tends to produce signs 2-3 months earlier ...
6
votes
2answers
430 views
Understanding appositives and the use of the m-dash ( — )
My understanding of a dash is that it sets off a lengthy appositive, but can also be used to introduce a summary. Consider the following passage from Stephan Jay Gould:
If evolution worked ...
5
votes
1answer
199 views
Is this dash correct?
I’m hoping someone can give me some feedback/advice on the dash below.
The site also supports a mobile
version that allows you to easily
check whether a book is in your
collection—a feature ...
12
votes
5answers
4k views
Appropriate dash to use when attributing a quotation?
If I’m citing a poem or quotation, what kind of dash precedes the author’s name? Example:
This Business of Printing; which I am heartily tired of, and repent I e’er attempted. . . .
...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Capitalization of words with dashes in titles
How would you capitalize a word in a book/article title when that word has an en dash in the middle of it? For instance, should "protein-protein interaction" be capitalized as "Protein-protein ...
2
votes
1answer
487 views
Are em dashes acceptable in lists?
I often see lists written as follows (using em dashes to elaborate a list item):
Item 1—explanation for item 1
Item 2—explanation for item 2
Is this generally correct, or are colons preferable?
3
votes
5answers
607 views
Does “cost-benefit ratio” use a hyphen or an en-dash?
Should I write "cost-benefit" (hyphen) or "cost–benefit" (en dash), and why?
7
votes
4answers
358 views
When and why did the em-dash and the hyphen supplant the semicolon?
It seems to me that semicolons are rarely used today in ordinary English writing - even in newspapers and books. They appear to have been replaced, in many cases, by em-dashes and hyphens (the hyphen ...
3
votes
1answer
400 views
Is there a classification for words combined with hyphens used as adjectives?
Is there a term or classification for words (non-adjectives, for lack of a better classifier) that are combined with hyphens that serve the purpose of an adjective? For example, "run-of-the-mill ...
3
votes
1answer
322 views
How is punctuation used after dashes?
I use em dashes frequently to break up random or ancillary thoughts in my writing. However, I'm uncertain how to deal with punctuation after an em dash when my sentence continues. For example, which ...
4
votes
1answer
272 views
May en-dashes be used in sports scores?
The accepted answer to the authoritative question When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen? currently has this to say regarding the en-dash:
An en-dash is use to connect values in a ...
6
votes
2answers
235 views
What is the difference between `-` and `--` [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
Is there any difference between:
-
and
-- or in some cases, a long dash
I have seen these two used lots of ...
4
votes
2answers
473 views
Is it wrong to space en dashes and em dashes?
How I use en dashes and em dashes
En dashes:
Sybrand Engelbrecht (1814–2177): Unspaced en dash.
January–December: Unspaced en dash.
Sybrand loved three things – soccer, jazz, and living forever ...
2
votes
1answer
270 views
When to use -, – and —? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
This is about hyphens (-), en-dashes (–) and em-dashes (—).
When to use which one? To be honest, I always use ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
What are the rules on when to use commas, colons, semicolons and dashes?
What are the rules on when to use commas, colons, semicolons and dashes?
3
votes
3answers
285 views
How does one correctly use a “-” outside of hyphenation - if at all?
When writing out emails I often find myself replacing semicolons with hyphens or dashes. For example, "Let's meet up at the pub - or would you rather go to a restaurant?"
I feel this is wrong, but I ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
Parentheses vs. double commas vs. dashes to provide additional detail
When do you use commas and when do you use parentheses to provide more detail about something?
For example:
The suspect, Tom Wilson, is now being charged with murder.
The suspect (Tom Wilson) is ...
5
votes
1answer
336 views
Confusion between colon and dash
For example, take a look at the following sentence:
There’s nothing to see — no one can handle you, dear.
What are the general guidelines?
13
votes
3answers
497 views
Is Hyphen Really the Longer – line instead of the shorter dash - line?
I had a discussion with some people today on hyphen and dashes. They had concluded that hyphen, which is used to link two connecting words (book-bag) is the longer line – instead of the shorter line ...
55
votes
1answer
3k views
When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
I generally know how to use a hyphen, but when should I use an en-dash instead of an em-dash, or when should I use a hyphen instead of an em-dash?
31
votes
5answers
5k views
Should I use a semicolon or a dash to connect two closely related sentences?
When you want to connect two closely related sentences, you can use a semicolon or a dash. (You can also use a dash for other kinds of non-sentential relations). How would you choose whether to use a ...
