What is the rule for using dashes?

Use dashes to mark the beginning and end of a series, which might otherwise get confused, with the rest of the sentence: Example: The three female characters—the wife, the nun, and the jockey—are the incarnation of excellence. Dashes are also used to mark the interruption of a sentence in dialogue: Example: “Help!

How do you use a dash correctly in a sentence?

Dashes replace otherwise mandatory punctuation, such as the commas after Iowa and 2020 in the following examples:

1. Without dash: The man from Ames, Iowa, arrived.
2. With dash: The man—he was from Ames, Iowa—arrived.
3. Without dash: The May 1, 2020, edition of the Ames Sentinel arrived in June.

Should the word after a dash be capitalized?

A dash doesn’t require any extra thought regarding capitalization. You treat the first word after a dash the same way you’d treat it if it followed a comma. On the other hand, you sometimes have to make a decision about capitalization when you use a colon.

Is there a space before and after a dash?

The dash (–) is used to set off additional material within a sentence, often in order to emphasize it, to set off appositives that contain commas, or to indicate missing words. When typing, use two hyphens together without spaces to form a dash. Do not put a space before or after the dash.

Why use a dash in a sentence?

Use dashes to set off an idea or an appositive within a sentence. A dash (—) is a punctuation mark used to set off an idea within a sentence and may be used alone or in pairs. Dashes interrupt a thought in a more dramatic way than a phrase enclosed in commas, but less theatrically than parentheses.

How do you use a dash in writing?

Do not confuse a dash (—) with a hyphen (-), which is shorter.

1. Use a dash to show a pause or break in meaning in the middle of a sentence:
2. Use a dash to show an afterthought:
3. Use a dash like a colon to introduce a list:
4. Use a dash to show that letters or words are missing:

Can you have a full sentence after a dash?

Capitalize the first word after a dash only when the word always has to be capped. (Do not cap for a complete sentence.)

What does a dash at the end of a sentence mean?

The dash (—) is a mark of punctuation used to set off a word or phrase after an independent clause or a parenthetical remark (words, phrases, or clauses that interrupt a sentence). “A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a ​comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than ​parentheses.”

What does a dash in a sentence mean?

A dash (—) is a punctuation mark used to set off an idea within a sentence and may be used alone or in pairs. Dashes interrupt a thought in a more dramatic way than a phrase enclosed in commas, but less theatrically than parentheses.

Do you capitalize after the dash in a sentence?

This is the May–June edition of the journal. So to recap: don’t capitalize after the dash, and make sure there are no spaces before or after your em dashes. (Em) Dashes are not a dramatic form of the colon. The colon is limited to a specific case: where the clause it introduces is defined by the clause preceding it.

How do you use the en dash in a sentence?

Using the En Dash to Denote a Connection. The en dash may also be used to indicate a connection between two words. Use an en dash when you need to connect terms that are already hyphenated or when you are using a two-word phrase as a modifier.

What are the different types of dashes in writing?

There are three forms of dashes: em, en, and the double hyphen. The most common types of dashes are the en dash (–) and the em dash (—). A good way to remember the difference between these two dashes is to visualize the en dash as the length of the letter N and the em dash as the length of the letter M.

What is Dash (-) punctuation?

Dash (-) is one of those punctuation marks which create a dramatic impact in the written language. Though not used as frequently as other punctuation marks, such as commas, full stops, question marks, semi colons, inverted commas, dash have their own value in the language.