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Difference Between the En dash and the Em Dash
The Em Dash is longer than the En Dash. That’s it. That’s all there is to it, EXCEPT when, where, and how to use them.
The principal use of the En Dash is to connect numbers and, less often, words.
Example: Her happiest days, 1980–1985, were when she was teaching.
Example: The London–Paris train leaves in ten minutes.
Okay, we got that. So our discussion today will focus the Em Dashes.
A Definition of the Em Dash we can live with:
The em dash is used in much the way a colon or a set of parentheses is used; it can show an abrupt change in thought or be used where a full stop (period) is too strong and a comma too weak. Em dashes are sometimes used to set off summaries or definitions. Geraldine Woods (2005). Webster’s New World punctuation: simplified and applied. Webster’s New World. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-7645-9916-3.
Outlaws of Fiction
I have a sneaky suspicion—nothing concrete, mind you—that the use of Em Dashes became a favorite among writers when editors outlawed colons and semicolons.
Oh, you didn’t know that colons and semicolons were outlawed in fiction? Yes, we newbies will get our knuckles severely rapped if we use these hooligans.
Just take a look at the following: (Dare I use a colon here?)
There’s a running joke in the fiction world that you only get one semicolon per career, so you need to use it wisely. Marcy Kennedy Grammar For Fiction Writers
Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college.― Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country
Colons and semicolons have no place on your pages unless absolutely necessary. Fiction is about flow and pace. Colons and semi-colons are about brevity, and they interfere with the natural flow of fiction.http://behlerblog.com/2008/04/02/when-a-manuscript-feels-sick
So here we are with Em Dashes, until we are told that they too have been run out of town and have joined up with Butch Colon and the Sundance Semicolon.
Guidelines For Use of Em Dashes
Clara—she had been awake most of the night—slouched over the kitchen table and moaned.
2. Use Em Dashes to amplify or explain.
Example:
The influence of three famous authors—King, Card, and Hugo—convinced her to become a writer.
3. Use Em Dashes to separate subject from pronoun.
Bravery—that was the priority he humbly pursued.
4. Most often the Em Dash is used to indicate sudden breaks. Interruptions. (Effective in interrupted dialogue but don’t confuse with trailing off dialogue.)
Interruption Example:
“Well, I don’t know,” Clara said. “I was thinking I might—”
“What the hell were you thinking? You might what…” Joe tried to control his anger and paced in front of the kitchen table.
(Notice in Clara’s dialogue we use an Em Dash because her dialogue is interrupted. In Joe’s dialogue, his trails off, so we use an ellipsis. Ellipses are discussed in blog post #58.)
Sudden Break Example:
“Someday she’s going to need me, and”—his voice turned icy— “I’ll be gone.”
“Will he—can he—really leave without me?” Clara asked.
5. If an Em Dash is used at the end of dialogue to indicate interruption, a comma should be used inside the quotation marks before the words that identify the speaker.
“What the hell were you thinking? You might what? Go to—,” Joe said, but Clara had already slammed the door in his face.
6. An Em Dash may be used with a question mark or an exclamation point, but never a comma (except in dialogue, see #5). And never use an Em Dash with a colon, or a semicolon, and rarely with a period except in endnotes/footnotes/editor’s notes.
Example:
- All at once Clara—can she have been out of her mind?—hauled off and socked Joe in the nose.
- Only if—for Pete’s sake!—you’re lost should you go to the authorities.
For Mac Users
Here is how you do an En Dash and an Em Dash on an Apple MacBook Pro.
En Dash: OPTION+HYPHEN
EmDash: OPTION+SHIFT+HYPHEN
Other Types of computers
For Macs: ⌥ Opt+- (en dash) or ⌥ Opt+⇧ Shift+- (em dash)
For Linux, if you have a Compose key: Compose–. (en dash) or Compose— (em dash),
For Windows: Alt+0150 (en dash) or Alt+0151 (em dash)
For iPhones and iPads: hold the – on screen keyboard until a pop up appears with choices including the en dash and em dash. If using an external keyboard use the Mac advice above.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_make_dashes#Em_dashes)
The Probe’s Mission Statement
The Probe— probing the unknown in science fiction, science, paranormal, fiction, ghosts, monsters, aliens, space, UFOs, the strange, and the weird. And a little on writing.
As always, I love hearing your advice and/or suggestions on writing or self-publishing. And if you have a recommendation for the Reference Library, please comment.
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- The Lost World of Kuélap and Its Cloud Warriors - February 4, 2021
Clara, this is a riot! It was my biggest problem with my publisher when I proofed my book… I was using a — , and it would come out as an em dash , an en dash, and sometimes with a space before and after, sometimes not. I actually sent THEM this explanations from the internet and told them to pick one and keep it through the whole manuscript! Thanks for this…now I know how to do it on my mac.
Hi Wendy, Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Your name just went into the magic jar twice since you commented on the Starseed post, also.
My editors kept marking the way I used em dashes and ellipses wrong. The research helped to clarify their use for me.
Glad you found it beneficial.
I think there is much confusion in the industry among authors, editors, and publishers on how to use these two creative tools in fiction. I am currently reading a NY Bestseller, well-known author, he uses em dashes, ellipses, and semicolons wrong. But hey, know what? I don’t think the typical readers notices as long as it doesn’t interrupt the flow. A misspelled word, yes they will notice. An incorrectly used em dash…probably not.
Link to Wendy Jordan’s book:
http://www.amazon.com/Embracing-End—Life-Journey-compassion-ebook/dp/B00JO7X2IC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415674106&sr=1-1&keywords=wendy+jordan
She is a Reiki master. Great book!
Interesting for sure!!!
From my perspective, em dash-en dash-50 yard dash, it’s all Greek to me! I will continue to go merrily along enjoying my life as a punctuational twit, all the while realizing I could do better but too lazy to do anything about it🧚♀️
Hahahah! Hi Maggye. Love your comment. And you are so right! Only nerdy writers would be fascinated with information on Em and En dashes. Thank you for commenting. —Clara