Questions tagged [dashes]
The dash is a family of punctuation marks which are not part of a word, but resemble long hyphens in appearance.
184
questions
2
votes
1answer
60 views
What does the use of a double em dash signifiy?
When watching The Man who Laughs (1928), at 40:14 the line, also pictured below, "Hey — — we saw her first!" appears.
What does the use of a double em-dash signify here?
0
votes
1answer
66 views
Which is better here, colon or dash?
Their style favors texture and timbre over more familiar and comforting musical elements; there is no beat, melody, or rhythm – only techno-cacophony.
Can I switch the dash for a colon, like this?
...
0
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0answers
20 views
How to punctuate “eight- or nine-year-old” [duplicate]
Suppose I want to say "eight-year-old or nine-year-old" more concisely. Where would I put dashes?
Should it be:
"eight or nine-year-old"
"eight- or nine-year-old"
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Can you use a dash to separate two complete sentences?
The term was from her party days - she always looked for a way to incorporate party slang into our lives.
Should there be a dash there?
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Does the em dash take precedence over the comma?
In a sentence like:
While I would love to do A, I cannot wait to do B.
If I add a set-off clause right before the comma, which of these is correct?
While I would love to do A—for reasons X—I cannot ...
1
vote
0answers
13 views
Commas or long dash: Used quarter-long,— three-month,— gasoline use was analysed
Is there a difference between the two sentences? One using long-dashes and the second commas
Used quarter-long — three-month — gasoline use was analysed.
Used quarter-long, three-month, gasoline use ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
'Without so much as a call or a letter – he showed up.' Is this grammatically correct?
Is the sentence below grammatically correct?
Without so much as a call or a letter – he showed up.
I know that dashes can be used to emphasize parenthetical information, but I feel as though the ...
0
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0answers
34 views
Should I use a suspended hyphen here? “A group of five-to-nine-year-olds did it,” or a “A group of five- to nine-year-olds did it”?
The title pretty much sums it up. Which of the following sentences is correct?
"A group of five-to-nine-year-olds did it."
"A group of five- to nine-year-olds did it."
Moreover, ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
How to explain punctuation in these 3 cases?
I had a test task for the position of freelance writer for sewing website. I did the writing part, but they asked me to explain some points in my text. How can I prove punctuation in a), b) and c) ...
0
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0answers
38 views
Using an en dash to separate a page and line range
When writing a range of pages and line numbers, would I use an en dash to separate the range, or is it more appropriate to use "through" in this situation?
Refer to page 12, line 3–page 13, ...
0
votes
2answers
119 views
What does “such as they were” mean?
In this sentence:
She did not want to meet Lettuce. That was a rare feeling for her; she would usually never avoid anybody, but Lettuce was somehow different. Was it just dislike, or was it ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
When to use em dashes in place of commas
To minimize transmission—which mainly occurs through the inhalation of infected droplets, many countries have enacted nationwide lockdowns, closing all but ‘essential’ businesses and putting most ...
0
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0answers
59 views
What is the correct way to punctuate a sentence with a laughter interjection?
I would like to know your thoughts on how to correctly punctuate this sentence:
When people comment how sipag or consistent I am working out during this time, I shrug it off because a. I don’t take ...
0
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0answers
109 views
'Machine learning or robotics related' hyphenation?
How should 'Machine learning or robotics related technologies' be hyphenated?
Machine learning[en dash] or robotics[hyphen]related technologies?
0
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0answers
66 views
colon or dash? punctuation
Please suggest the correct punctuation at points 1, 2 and 3 in the following sentence:
If you had to write an article, for example, reporting on events in
any institution which cares for people (...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
Do the words “en dash” and “em dash” require a hyphen? [duplicate]
I have seen the compound words "en dash" and "em dash" sometimes appear with a hyphen ("en-dash") and sometimes without. Are both the hyphenated and the unhyphenated forms correct?
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0answers
110 views
punctuation: the 20 to 30 year old age group
I'd like to know how "the 20 to 30 year old age group" is punctuated in standard English.
"30-year-old" should be hyphenated. What about "20 to 30"?
Any principles at work?
I'd appreciate your help.
1
vote
1answer
68 views
What do you do with a comma that would come after a dash?
One common use of em dashes is to offset parenthetical phrases. But if a comma outside the parenthetical phrase immediately follows the parenthetical, what do you do with the comma?
I realize that ...
1
vote
1answer
540 views
Why are place names in some old books a capital letter followed by dashes, and what is this phenomenon called?
This is something very odd I have noticed in some older books, most recently in "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoyevsky. Place names, when not specifically essential or well-known, are made up of one ...
5
votes
1answer
3k views
In British English, which is more common — the em dash or the en dash?
I'm reasonably certain the em dash is more common than the en dash in American English. But which of the two is more common in British English?
1
vote
1answer
292 views
Dictating hyphen or dash over the phone
How should I dictate hyphen in email address or url over the phone ?
My email is gabriel hyphen glenn at gmail dot com
My email is gabriel dash glenn at gmail dot com
1
vote
1answer
49 views
What punctuation should you use after a list?
What punctuation should you use after a list and before describing the list? In the example below, what should I use where I have used a dash? Or is the dash correct?
"Some examples of Apple’s ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Do I use a dash or a semicolon here, or something else entirely?
Is it
"In other words, you can compare my existence in the dating world with living in the Sahara--bone dry with the occasional oasis appearing"
or
"In other words, you can compare my existence in ...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
Is the folllowing sentence correctly punctuated?
Could someone please tell me if I've correctly punctuated the following sentence (specifically, if I've correctly used the dash and commas highlighted bloew)? Also, is the period at the end of the ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
Use of comma before the words “irregardless”, “where” and after a period in time
I'm unsure as to whether or not to include a comma within the two sentences outlined below (I've bolded the specific sections). In the first sentence, I have a feeling a dash might be more appropriate....
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Student t-distribution: why the dash
In statistics, the t-distribution is important. It is an approximation to the normal distribution. Of course we don't say "normal-distribution" (with the dash).
Well then, what exactly is the ...
0
votes
1answer
739 views
Dashes in lists
As a mathematician I often have to explain the notation in my writing. For example, I write:
"F denotes my favourite function, A - a beautiful set and K - an important kernel."
Should I use dashes ...
1
vote
1answer
300 views
Dash after the prefix “non”
Is the hyphen that we often see in words such as "non-zero", "non-trivial", etc. optional?
In case the answer is negative, is there any rule of thumb on which one may rely in order to recall when ...
2
votes
2answers
74 views
from [time]-[time]
I see people using expressions such as "join us from 10am-2pm on January 3" or "we are going from January-May." Should "from" be there since there is no "until" or "to"?
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Which do you read x' as dash or prime?
In Japan, it is occasionally said that x' should be read as eks-prime in mathematical contexts. However, there are several cases to read eks-dash. In addition, a person says that eks-dash was ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Should I use a hyphen, an en dash, or an em dash to define or introduce a word? [closed]
I have looked up online and studied usages for the hyphen, en dash, and em dash. I still haven't found an answer if I can define words with a dash in English.
The backstory on dashes defining ...
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vote
2answers
110 views
Is it acceptable to place a comma after the em-dash in this sentence? [duplicate]
Due to financial struggles brought on by marital struggles—or perhaps it was the other way around—, the family had to forsake it as the bank foreclosed on it.
I normally wouldn't place a comma, but ...
1
vote
3answers
83 views
How would one correctly place punctuation marks in this sentence?
Moth-like, the people buzzed about: walking, driving, directing— each
to their own light.
I'm not sure whether each comma, colon, dash and hyphen are used correctly here. Please help!
Also, this ...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
Colons vs Em dash ?
The designer envisions the game’s fundamental elements: the settings, characters, and plots that make each game unique, and is thus a primary creative force behind a video game.
A) NO CHANGE
B) ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
What should I use when introducing dialogue, hyphens, en-dashes or em-dashes? [closed]
I have always use the hyphen when introducing dialogue.
-I love skating, but I'm not very good at it.
But I have recently been educated about the existence and use of en/em dashes. Now, I think I ...
1
vote
2answers
198 views
Should we use an em dash, en dash, or semi-colon
A sentence is causing some discussion in the office - it's about a Nylon product. We are not sure if we should use an en-dash, em-dash, semi-colon, or something else entirely. I thought an em-dash was ...
0
votes
1answer
982 views
Usage of en dash in a CV
I write the date in my résumé in the following format:
7/2017–present
4/2015–6/2017
8/2010–3/2015
Is this the right way to do it? I am asking because I also saw the following notation:
7/2017 – ...
1
vote
2answers
95 views
I tend to overuse the hyphen as a pause, and would appreciate some feedback on this [duplicate]
An example of the way I tend to use the hyphen would be:
Some people are genetically predisposed to build muscle - I am not one of them.
I usually do this more often when I am in a hurry. Still, I ...
0
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0answers
37 views
How is a dash used in English [duplicate]
Is a dash used between words in word combinations like fill up? Or is it fill-up?
0
votes
1answer
142 views
(un)conditional or (un-)conditional?
I want to write "conditional (mean imputation)" and "unconditional (mean imputation)" shorter, which of these 4 is the best way to do that? If multiple ways are correct, which is the most common (in ...
4
votes
3answers
6k views
Is the em dash used in formal writing?
Is it valid to use em dashes in formal writing? My teacher said it's informal to use em dashes under any circumstances, so I just wanted to make sure. I've gone through several related questions in ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
em dashes and question marks
Would it be correct to use the question mark as it is written in the following sentence? "If your cousin invites you to visit—and why would he not?—I will expect your return after only nine days."
1
vote
1answer
78 views
How are dashes used when referring to the work of someone? [closed]
Example: [Artist] - [Song]
Is that little line supposed to be a hyphen, non-breaking hyphen, figure-/en-/em-dash, horizontal bar, minus sign or double oblique hyphen? Are there supposed to be spaces ...
0
votes
1answer
93 views
the usage of dashes before relative pronouns [closed]
I came across these two sentences:
Today, his sculptures – which spin, tilt, and sway – belong to collections worldwide.
Today, his sculptures – spin, tilt, and sway – belong to collections ...
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vote
0answers
122 views
Specific Semicolon vs. Dash Case
and thanks for taking the time to read my question.
I was writing an essay not too long ago, and I ended up writing a sentence that goes like this:
As people convert to higher-paid jobs the birth ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Sentence Structure (linking)
In saying:
There are a lot of benefits for the new model of transportation, the Smartcopter.
How do I name the model of transportation as the Smartcopter in one sentence as shown in the example ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Can I make minor typographical corrections to a title in citations? [closed]
Let's say I need to cite a website or printed report with the title:
Broccoli production in Ruritania, 1990-2010
with a hyphen in "1990-2010." In English typography, though, the standard indicator ...
-1
votes
1answer
310 views
Is it correct to say “inter- disciplinary/national” instead of “interdisciplinary and international”?
I'm trying to be more concise with my words. Does writing "inter- disciplinary/national" to describe to my educational background make sense? If not, what's a good alternative?
0
votes
0answers
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
98 views
What do these sentences from “When Dinosaurs Roamed North Dakota” mean? [closed]
[W]e passed rolling hills with emerald green grass, farmhouses dotting
acres of fields and wild, rocky landscapes. (Hillary Richard, "When Dinosaurs Roamed North Dakota", New York
Times)
I ...
