Linked Questions
44 questions linked to/from When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
6
votes
2
answers
7k
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 places ...
user3669
4
votes
1
answer
2k
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 em-...
user3406
2
votes
1
answer
976
views
Why multiple length dashes (em, en, hyphen)? [duplicate]
I'm wondering why there are three different sizes (perhaps more?) for lines that separate characters? I understand the grammatical usage (or rather, I could look it up), but the benefit to readers is ...
- 143
1
vote
1
answer
3k
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?
- 165
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What does the dash ("—") in this sentence do? [duplicate]
Does "–" between methods and documenting have any function in this sentence? What is it trying to say?
Moreover, multi-lingual texts, like vernacular works, have traditionally had strong affinities ...
- 29
1
vote
2
answers
949
views
How to punctuate a range of hyphenated numbers? [duplicate]
What is the best way to punctuate a range of hyphenated numbers, e.g., sections 12-3 through 12-7?
EDIT: Just to reply to those who marked this as a duplicate, I really fail to see how the post that ...
- 163
0
votes
1
answer
821
views
Non-residential vs non–residential (short or long hyphen) [duplicate]
Should there be a short or long hyphen separating the two words?
Non-residential vs non–residential
- 115
0
votes
1
answer
811
views
When to use a hyphen? [duplicate]
As a non-native speaker, i wonder whether there are any guidelines concerning the usage of hyphens.
Would you write
Task-planning for robots ...
or rather
Task planning for robots ...
- 135
-1
votes
1
answer
373
views
Is this use of en dash legitimate? [duplicate]
In the following sentence, how do you understand the en dash?
Our findings are very interesting from an international viewpoint – business tourism.
Is the use of the en dash appropriate here?
...
- 7
0
votes
1
answer
78
views
Difference between medium and long sized hyphen? [duplicate]
Is there any difference between a 'long' and a 'medium' sized hyphen? (I don't think so, but I am just checking to make sure)
We all know the very short line, namely, the 'dash': -
Then there is ...
0
votes
1
answer
204
views
Is a hyphen or a dash longer? [duplicate]
Can anyone confirm if the hyphen or dash is longer? Which one is longer than the other and which one is the shorter?
- 9
1
vote
0
answers
93
views
En dashes and shortened year ranges [duplicate]
I understand that typically an en dash ( – ) is used when presenting a range of numbers. For example, when representing a range of years such as "1990 – 2000."
My question pertains to instances in ...
1
vote
1
answer
66
views
The em dash, and correct usage in the sentence that follows [duplicate]
As I walked through the channel — I knew it was over.
Is this a correct usage of the em dash?
0
votes
0
answers
36
views
How to punctuate interrupted dialogue [duplicate]
What is the best way to punctuate interrupted dialogue? I have seen it done like this, but I am not sure if it is correct.
"In my opinion the best w--"
"Nobody is interested in your opinion," Fred ...
- 545
0
votes
0
answers
25
views
What kind of dash should I use to end dialogue abruptly? [duplicate]
My character is trying to speak,but she is interrupted by another character.
Here is what I am trying to say.
“I no longer care!” Leah was upset with her cousin, and she didn’t know why, but she had ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
22
views
Do I put any kind of dash here? [duplicate]
If I say "This removes block breaking particles." when talking about a very popular block game (the game causes particles to appear when you break blocks), do I use a dash between the two ...
104
votes
10
answers
139k
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?
For example:
This Business of Printing; which I am heartily tired of, and repent I e’er attempted....
—John ...
- 1,041
30
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Is it correct to hyphenate with compound premodifiers? If so, where is the hyphen placed?
For example, "file system" and "related". Is it "file system-related"? It will appear as if it is a compound of "file" and "system-related", won't it?
- 3,368
18
votes
3
answers
18k
views
Using "non-" to prefix a two-word phrase
Does "non-" prefixed to a two word phrase permit another hyphen before the second word?
If I want to refer to an entity which is defined as the negation of another entity by attaching "non-" it seems ...
- 2,581
5
votes
5
answers
4k
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?
- 453
3
votes
4
answers
22k
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 ...
- 31
4
votes
1
answer
13k
views
what's the difference between a hyphen, a dash and a minus sign? [closed]
hyphen(-), dash(—), minus(-)
What do I use when? and does it really matter? And what's their origin, why did people think they needed another very similar sign?
- 213
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Does one use a hyphen in between 'other' and 'hand' when saying "on the other hand"?
When I was typing this sentence "And on the other hand, some user actions don't trigger the same response." my spell checker mentioned that I might put a hyphen between 'other' and 'hand' and use '...
- 560
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a word that describes a loud exhale from the mouth to indicate tiredness? [closed]
I'm not sure if it's correct to call it puff/puffing.
The definition is not close to what I'm looking for.
It's when you inhale deeply and release the air loudly.
The top result I found online is '...
- 37
2
votes
1
answer
5k
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, ...
6
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is it acceptable to use a single hyphen as a dash (as the BBC does)?
Is it acceptable to use a single hyphen as a dash (as the BBC does)?
Example from BBC News:
Venezuela - a major oil producer - has been heavily affected by the
fall in oil prices on ...
- 2,363
2
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Expressing sudden interruption in written, narrative speech
Question: What is the lexical technique for expressing sudden interruptions in written, narrative speech?
For example:
I was walking down the street when— wait! Look at that!
In the example above,...
- 485
12
votes
3
answers
330
views
Is the SE "new privilege" notification message a sentence?
When a Stack Exchange user gets a new privilege, it's accompanied by the following notification:
Congrats, you've gained the privilege – talk in chat learn more
That phrase "may be oddly worded, ...
- 5,947
5
votes
2
answers
465
views
Why are there multiple kinds of dashes in the English language?
At our writing disposal are a preponderance of short straight lines:
Hyphen -
En dash –
Em dash —
minus sign −
Horizontal bar ―
Figure dash ‒
...
- 2,662
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How is the spelling of a hyphenated word read?
How is the spelling of a hyphenated word usually read out loud?
For example, with "Anglo-Saxon", do we say:
"It is spelt as A—N—G—L—O—dash—S—A—X&...
- 6,941