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vmrob
vmrob
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I find myself wanting to use the phrase "that is" or "that's to say" but often can't figure out what sort of punctuation I use with it. I think it's an explanatory phrase, but I'm not sure.

I mean, it happens all the time, that is, birds eating and ants crawling about, but I felt connected to those beings if not for just a moment.

Another alternative that doesn't feel right to me at all:

I mean, it happens all the time. That is, birds eating and ants crawling about, but I felt connected to those beings if not for just a moment.

Likewise, I think I might be able to justify an em dash, but I'm always nervous about using them for lack of proper understanding.

I mean, it happens all the time–that is, birds eating and ants crawling about–but I felt connected to those beings if not for just a moment.

Can someone provide a good example of how to use that phrase?

I find myself wanting to use the phrase "that is" or "that's to say" but often can't figure out what sort of punctuation I use with it. I think it's an explanatory phrase, but I'm not sure.

I mean, it happens all the time, that is, birds eating and ants crawling about, but I felt connected to those beings if not for just a moment.

Another alternative that doesn't feel right to me at all:

I mean, it happens all the time. That is, birds eating and ants crawling about, but I felt connected to those beings if not for just a moment.

Likewise, I think I might be able to justify an em dash, but I'm always nervous about using them for lack of proper understanding.

I mean, it happens all the time–that is, birds eating and ants crawling about–but I felt connected to those beings if not for just a moment.

Can someone provide a good example of how to use that phrase?

I find myself wanting to use the phrase "that is" or "that's to say" but often can't figure out what sort of punctuation I use with it. I think it's an explanatory phrase, but I'm not sure.

I mean, it happens all the time, that is, birds eating and ants crawling about, but I felt connected to those beings if for just a moment.

Another alternative that doesn't feel right to me at all:

I mean, it happens all the time. That is, birds eating and ants crawling about, but I felt connected to those beings if for just a moment.

Likewise, I think I might be able to justify an em dash, but I'm always nervous about using them for lack of proper understanding.

I mean, it happens all the time–that is, birds eating and ants crawling about–but I felt connected to those beings if for just a moment.

Can someone provide a good example of how to use that phrase?

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vmrob
vmrob
  • 175
  • 1
  • 1
  • 5

How do I correctly punctuate the phrase "that is" in the context of an explanation?

I find myself wanting to use the phrase "that is" or "that's to say" but often can't figure out what sort of punctuation I use with it. I think it's an explanatory phrase, but I'm not sure.

I mean, it happens all the time, that is, birds eating and ants crawling about, but I felt connected to those beings if not for just a moment.

Another alternative that doesn't feel right to me at all:

I mean, it happens all the time. That is, birds eating and ants crawling about, but I felt connected to those beings if not for just a moment.

Likewise, I think I might be able to justify an em dash, but I'm always nervous about using them for lack of proper understanding.

I mean, it happens all the time–that is, birds eating and ants crawling about–but I felt connected to those beings if not for just a moment.

Can someone provide a good example of how to use that phrase?