How To Use The Dashes In Writing
The information inside the dashes is off topic.
How to use the dashes in writing. It s longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. A dash is a little horizontal line that floats in the middle of a line of text not at the bottom. Use a longer em dash to join independent clauses with words like and but as or and for. To properly use a dash in an english sentence start by identifying which dash you should use. Two dashes can emphasize material in the middle of a sentence.
They can be used on their own or in pairs to offset a word or phrase. This works in microsoft word but not google docs. Similarly limit the frequency of dash use in your writing. Em dashes so called because they are at least historically the width of the character m are used for emphasis or interruption. The two most common dashes are the em dash and the en dash.
The material inside the dashes relates to the information in the rest of the sentence but it acts as an interruption to the main point that you re making. Dashes are usually considered to be informal. The reason for using an en dash with such compounds is to send a subtle signal to the reader that the prefix belongs to the entire compound not just the first word of it. The words between a pair of dashes may or may not form a complete sentence. Typically used for offensive words i will look the children.
It should be reserved to emphasize a limited number of important points. Use a dash to show that letters or words are missing. The en dash which is the width of the letter n. En dashes are also used to connect a prefix with an open compound. Typically used in missing word questions in fact there are two kinds of dash.
They are really f d up. Some style and grammar guides even permit you to write a complete sentence within the dashes. Take it out and the sentence makes sense. To create an em dash this way use 2014 alt x type 2014 then hit the alt key and keep it pressed down while hitting the x key then release both keys at the same time. Dashes are used to separate groups of words not to separate parts of words like a hyphen does.