Tagged Questions
-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
199 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
...
2
votes
6answers
237 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
195 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
241 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
143 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 ...
-2
votes
2answers
85 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
717 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
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
1answer
881 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
201 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
371 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
358 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
618 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.
2
votes
3answers
690 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
178 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
432 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
4answers
359 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
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
273 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
236 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 ...
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
286 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
500 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 ...
