Questions tagged [em-dashes]
The em-dashes tag has no usage guidance.
76 questions
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Modifying dashes within quotations
If I'm quoting a sentence that uses a different type of dash than the one I prefer, is it permissible to modify the dashes within the quoted sentence to make them consistent with my preference?
Let us ...
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"in other words" - Can this be used as a subordinating conjunction?
One of the foundational questions regarding any talent or ability is
whether it is innate or learned–in other words, are we born musical,
or can musicality and creativity be taught?
Is this a run-on ...
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What is the correct punctuation to use in this sentence?
A strong adaptation of the metered billing models by the leading Software-as-a-Service providers demonstrate the advantages such billing models bringing to all stakeholders of the service: the service ...
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Comma after em-dash
I have seen many questions on this, but all the answers seem to address the example—how the use of em-dash may be avoided using some other forms of punctuation in that particular example—and not the ...
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Is there a difference using the en dash with spaces and em dash without spaces? [duplicate]
I’ve noticed that both en dashes with spaces and em dashes with no spaces are used in some reports I'm reading. My understanding is that (B) below would be correct usage. (In MS Word the em dahses ...
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Should there be a space after an em dash if the dash is used to cut off the end of a sentence and a new sentence begins afterwards?
Usually an em dash is used without any spaces on either side, especially when the punctuation is in the middle of a sentence. However, how should it be used if it were used at the end, such as when it'...
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Do I need a question mark at end of statement ending in a parenthetical question? [duplicate]
If a sentence ends with a question offset by an em-dash does it end with a period or a question mark? This is the example:
Lucy scans for forgotten manglow mentions, but the margin notes contain only ...
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Can I use em dashes around "namely, [...]"
For example:
While it did cause certain severe reactions in the audience - namely, anger - emotions are not the true purpose of...
Terrible example off the top of my head but I hope this exemplifies ...
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Are these uses of em dashes extant in English-language fiction?
I'm giving some authoring advice to a newer writer. She has a curious convention where she uses an em dash at the end of a sentence in the narrative when she wants to indicate an abrupt change of ...
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Punctuation in a bulleted list, title and description
I'm making documention for a piece of software and I need to write multiple lists, namely menus and functions of the software.
Currently items are formatted this way:
• File
◦ New – ...
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Is it correct to write "two possible approaches on how to solve this issue will be discussed - public awareness campaigns and public services"?
I am especially interested if the hyphen in the sentence is used correctly and if this can be called a hyphen in the first place. This source states that it should rather be called "em-dash"....
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Writing a name after a dash
In my thesis, I want to thank my friend "XY". So I was wondering if it is correct to write the following:
Lastly, I want to express my most profound appreciation to the person who was there ...
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Unsymmetric Double Emdash
In most cases, the emdash is used symmetrically to add Parenthetical Details.
It can also be used unsymmetrically to add Details at the end of a sentence.
[[ EDITORIAL COMMENT :
This Question is about ...
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Comma before "whether they be"
I have the following sentence:
If your school doesn't offer AP courses, we recommend that you take
the most challenging courses you can—whether they be honors, IB, or
even dual enrollment courses.
...
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Semicolon vs em-dash in response thanking someone for help
I want to thank someone for helping me. I am trying to decide which of these is more appropriate:
Thanks for the clarification; that was helpful.
Thanks for the clarification – that was helpful.
...
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Is it acceptable to combine em dashes with parentheses?
Specifically, can I write something like "—(x)—"?
For example,
I thought x—(which was y)—so z.
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Can em dash be used to define and give more info about a subject? [closed]
Can I use an em dash to embellish the last word of the original thought?
Examples:
I spent my career driving a Ford F-150—the most reliable truck ever produced!
The new method is setup for autonomous ...
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Can an em-dash function as both an opener to its own parenthetical and simultaneously close a nonrestrictive clause introduced by a comma?
I've read that you are not supposed to include a comma before 'in which', since it is part of a restrictive clause linked to a noun. If you do put a comma before it, it is to render it part of a ...
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—Beginning Sentences with a Dash
One thing that has always perplexed me while reading philosophy is the odd use of punctuation. — Namely, the use of em dashes to begin a sentence. I find this most prevalent in Hegel and Wittgenstein ...
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Are such sentence constructions acceptable?
The structure of the following sentence struck me as odd.
So large was his mouth that he could fit his entire fist inside—an antic that drew hysterical laughter at drinking bouts during the bloody ...
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Can you replace an em-dash with a comma?
If I were to say something like
This is something that is revolutionary—that will redefine our society.
Can you use a comma instead of an em dash? In all cases? What are the rules?
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Can em dashes be used to introduce a dependent clause?
Consider the following sentence from WSJ:
And so, like the dutiful and efficient worker I was, I’d put my energy
into clearing the decks, cranking through the smaller stuff to get it
out of the way—...
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Is the em dash appropriate in place of a comma?
I am trying to learn the rules for the em dash. My colleagues and I were having an argument about this. One wrote this sentence for his students
We have just derived a fundamental trigonometric ...
user259700
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Em dash next to displayed equation
I want to use an em dash to set off a parenthetical text for emphasis. However, the text in question is adjacent to a displayed mathematical formula.
What is the proper way to do so?
I am aware that ...
user410947
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Can I use a dash to replace a repeating verb?
In my language (Bulgarian) you can use a dash to replace a verb that you have already used in the same sentence. For example:
The distance from London to Paris is 500km, from Paris to Munich —
850km, ...
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48
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Comma needed using and em-dash paranthetical within a list?
What's the correct use of an em-dash within a comma-separated list?
E.g. is, "Tom only likes four colours: red, blue—although he's on the fence—, green, and yellow" correct or is, "Tom ...
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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?
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colon followed by a question
I did some search on the Internet but am unable to get clarity on this.
SET 1
Which of the following is correct?
A) Have you: Ever purchased a blue car? Ever visited Hong Kong? Ever gone on a long ...
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Capitals after mdash
I would like to know if, in British English, if there is a question after emdash, do I need to start the question with a capital? for example
—Do you know what this means?
Also, what about a general ...
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Em dash in British English [duplicate]
I am using em dashes and writing in British English. I would like to know if I should put spaces both before and after the em dash.
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Which Punctuation Mark Should Be Used To Show Repetition?
Is it okay to use an em-dash if I want to show repetition of word/words or phrase in a sentence?
I told you ― I told you to put on a different voice.
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What is the best way to punctuate titles that have subtitles with subtitles?
I am going through a few movies and I see Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions. Are that many colons appropriate? I am inclined to use em-dashes for the next subtitle, leading to Pokémon: Zoroark — ...
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em-dash or semicolon for this case? [closed]
I am trying to decide whether the semicolon or em-dash is the more appropriate punctuation mark in this case:
It's not that I don't care -- it's just that I'm busy with other things.
It's not that I ...
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Can an em dash be inserted in the middle of a quotation for interjection?
I've found questions asking about an em dash in quoted speech, and punctuation rules for em dashes in quotes, but this question is quite different.
The example I saw comes from a tweet, reproduced ...
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Punctuating dialogue interrupted by speaker?
When a speaker briefly interrupts their own dialogue, then resumes in the same paragraph, how do you punctuate the interruption?
I know that, when it doesn't halt speech (i.e. dashes outside quotes), ...
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Use of em dash to separate different speakers in a quotation(s)
Suppose there are three characters, each saying something different outside of a room and you are listening to them from inside of the room. What is the correct way to punctuate the following using em ...
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Can I use "such as" after em-dash?
Example:
So you might need help from various resources—such as parents, classmates, school administrators, and so on.
Or should I write:
So you might need help from various resources—parents, ...
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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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A semicolon or an em dash? [duplicate]
"Hediger acquired a drone after losing half of her harvest in one year to weeds. She estimates that identifying problems faster with timely crop data and using less weed killer will save her tens of ...
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In Britain, 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 publications. But which of the two is more common in British publications?
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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?
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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....
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Using punctuation within a question to create a pause
Is it possible to create a long pause (confusion) in the following question.
'You're maybe wondering how could that be. That she is considering running away?'
Between 'be and that', I was ...
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Where and how should I place the punctuation marks in this sentence?
[James] Iris did not have a job—unless panhandling could be considered one—in which case, he was wholly employed.
How would you place and/or rearrange the punctuation marks in this sentence? I've ...
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using comma within the appositive
If you have a list of items separated by commas, can it be used as an appositive if you separate it from the rest of the sentence by yet another by comma?
Here's an example:
The factory produces ...
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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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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 ...
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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 ...
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Should I use a comma or em dash before "including"?
Which of the following two versions is preferable, and why:
This document applies to all systems, people, and processes that constitute the organization’s information systems, including board members,...
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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) ...
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