What is the purpose of a dash?
A dash is a punctuation mark that resembles a hyphen, but longer. A dash is used to separate part of a sentence and indicate a break. It indicates a longer pause than a comma and a semicolon. It is also called a long dash or an em dash.
When should I use dashes?
Dashes function in two ways: to signal interruptions in a sentence (basically like parentheses), and to connect independent clauses.
Why do you put a dash between words?
In English, you have something called COMPOUND WORDS. These are words formed out of two or more smaller ones. The meaning of the newly formed compound word is often very different from the individual smaller words. In between these two smaller words, you would have a DASH.
What is the purpose of a hyphen?
Hyphens connect two words to make a single word. Hyphens are also used to attach a prefix to a word. In some situations, hyphens connect adverbs and adjectives to describe a noun. This can be avoided by rewording the sentence.
What is difference between dash and hyphen?
Quick Usage Guideline
Em dashes are longer (—), so they are used between phrases or clauses (groups of words). Hyphens are shorter (-), so they are only used between prefixes and words to make compound words such as self- esteem. Of these three marks of punctuation, the en dash is used the least frequently.
What does the bad word dash mean?
dash2. / (dæʃ) / interjection. informal a euphemistic word for damn (def. 1), damn (def.
When not to use dashes?
Although dashes can be used in different parts of a text body, there are some common mistakes you should avoid. For example: x You should not use a dash with a comma. x A common grammatical error is a failure to correctly space words before or after dashes.
What is a dash in writing?
A dash is expressed as an "em dash" ( — ) in printing, is expressed in plain text as two hyphens ( -- ) and is used in place of a comma, colon or semicolon for greater emphasis. It denotes a major break or pause and should not be overused. President Dunn introduced the plan—the first of its kind—at a public forum.
How do you use dashes in word?
Em-dashes can be used to suggest an afterthought, to set off extra information within a sentence, to signal an abrupt shift, and to emphasize a thought or sentence. Em-dashes can be used to summarize or illustrate a thought as in the example below.
Why do people text with dashes?
It is used to indicate the sentence has been interrupted. It is particularly used for speech. I will come clean and say I am guilty of using dashes instead of conventional punctuation - like this, it operates as a kind of informal break in logic, or separation of ideas.
Why do people end sentences with a dash?
Em dashes (not to be confused with hyphens or ellipses) are used to indicate that a speaker has been interrupted mid-sentence by another character. The em dash should be placed directly after the final word the speaker gets out before being interrupted (with no extra space) and inside the closing quotation mark.
Why are dashes used in dialogue?
The short answer is yes, email addresses can include these characters, but with some exceptions. The two biggest factors to consider are hyphen placement and email service provider. Let's look at each in a bit more detail.
What are 5 uses for a hyphen?
There are two types of dashes: em dashes and en dashes. Both get their names from their length. An em dash is about as long as the letter "m" (—), whereas an en dash is only about half that length, or the length of the letter "n" (–).
Can an email have a dash?
Using a single hyphen instead of an em dash can confuse readers and make your writing look unprofessional. If you're writing text in a program or on a website where the em dash character is completely unavailable, use two hyphens together (–) to signify an em dash.
What are the two types of dash?
“I keep seeing people say this, so what does 'I-' mean with the dash? “I-“ is more like you are speechless. As if you are about to say something, but what you have seen or heard is so shock inducing you just go “I-“ and cannot complete your sentence. This often comes from memes.
Is a dash just two hyphens?
British, informal + old-fashioned. : to look attractive in the clothes one is wearing. He really cuts a dash in his new suit.
Why do people say I with a dash?
synonyms: dart, flash, scoot, scud, shoot buck, charge, shoot, shoot down, tear. move quickly and violently. types: plunge. dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity. type of: belt along, bucket along, cannonball along, hasten, hie, hotfoot, pelt along, race, rush, rush along, speed, step on it.
What does cute a dash mean?
Generally, when a compound modifier comes before the word it modifies, you need to use a hyphen in the compound (e.g., a high-impact advertisement or a well-made handbag).
What is the synonym for dash?
Dash. Use a dash instead of a comma if you want to set off a nonessential element that needs special emphasis—but use it sparingly and for deliberate effect. If a nonessential element contains an internal comma—again, a comma within the element itself—use dashes instead of commas to set the element off.
Is well made hyphenated?
Although they perform a role similar to those of commas and parentheses, dashes show a more abrupt pause or shift in a sentence. Dashes add more emphasis to the material they set off. This emphasis can add drama or emotion to the affected words, phrases, or clauses.
Can a dash replace a comma?
There are three lengths of what non-typesetters simply think of as a dash: the hyphen (-), the en-dash (–), and the em-dash (—). These punctuations marks belong to the elite of punctuation but are actually quite easy. In this article, you can read about their function and how to insert them in Word and Latex.
How do dashes affect a sentence?
The en dash is approximately the length of the letter N, and the em dash the length of the letter M. The shorter en dash (–) is used to mark ranges and with the meaning “to” in phrases like “Dover–Calais crossing.” The longer em dash (—) is used to separate extra information or mark a break in a sentence.
What are the 3 types of dashes?
The dash (—), also called the em dash, is the long horizontal bar, much longer than a hyphen. Few keyboards have a dash, but a word processor can usually produce one in one way or another. If your keyboard can't produce a dash, you will have to resort to a hyphen as a stand-in.
How long is a dash?
In the UK, it's conventional to use a SPACED EN DASH. This is not the law, not a rule, not the only way or the right way. It's just the style that many UK publishers choose, though not all.
What is a dash called in grammar?
If you have a numeric keyboard, hold down the Alt key and type 0151 for an em dash or 0150 for an en dash.
How do you use dashes in UK English?
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.
How to do long dash?
Dashes are used to show a range or in place of parentheses to show that information has been inserted into a sentence. Dashes are only used in informal writing; in academic and business writing, use parentheses, commas, or colons instead. Do not put a space before or after a dash.
How do you use dashes in a script?
Avoid using more than two em dashes in a sentence
Since these dashes denote afterthoughts, it helps to keep to two em dashes in a sentence. Too many afterthoughts or over-emphasizing shows a lack of clarity in your writing, making it dull to read.
What do dashes emphasize?
In the early 17th century, in Okes-printed plays of William Shakespeare, dashes are attested that indicate a thinking pause, interruption, mid-speech realization, or change of subject.
Are dashes used in formal writing?
The dashes' ability to create silence within the poem, forcing the reader to stop and take a break wherever one occurs, Johnson refers to as a “musical device” (x). The pause they create mimics the same effect as a comma, coaxing the reader into pausing, though on a slightly different scale.
How many dashes is too many?
The hyphen, the em dash and the en dash are the straight arrows among punctuation marks, an otherwise fairly curvaceous lot. The hyphen (-), the shortest of the three marks, is familiar (sometimes wretchedly so) to most writers. So is the em dash (—), more often called the long dash, or sometimes just the dash.
Why does Shakespeare use dashes?
Can Gmail addresses have hyphens? The decision by Google to allow or not allow the dash in new email addresses they create is a Gmail policy. The dash is considered legal character so they and all other email systems will still send and receive emails that use the dash.
Why are dashes important in poetry?
[email protected]. But, there are some exceptions that you should know of. For instance, not all email service providers accept the usage of a dash in emails. Gmail allows it, but other services may not.
What words have a dash?
Quick Usage Guideline
Em dashes are longer (—), so they are used between phrases or clauses (groups of words). Hyphens are shorter (-), so they are only used between prefixes and words to make compound words such as self- esteem. Of these three marks of punctuation, the en dash is used the least frequently.
Which symbol is dash?
Em dash in APA Style (—)
In APA Style, the em dash is often used to signify a pause — an aside or afterthought — which has the effect of drawing our attention to the information in parentheses. It's less formal than a semicolon. E.g. Note there is no space either side of an em dash in APA Style.
Do dashes matter in Gmail?
Typically, a hyphen is used to connect the words in a compound adjective (see below). However, when the compound adjective contains an entity that is made up of multiple words, it's correct to use an en-dash.
Does Gmail ignore dashes?
Double dashes are used instead of commas (or parentheses) to interrupt a sentence. The phrase separated by dashes must be grammatically inessential, by which I simply mean that the sentence will still work without that phrase.
What is the difference between a dash and a hyphen?
Most newspapers insert a space before and after the dash, and many popular magazines do the same, but most books and journals omit spacing, closing whatever comes before and after the em dash right up next to it.
Can you use dashes in APA?
Can you use a dash to separate two complete sentences (dashes, English)? Yes, if the dash serves the same purpose as a colon or a semicolon—this means that the dash separates two sentences, of which the second explains the first.
What is the difference between en dash and hyphen?
A dash is a punctuation mark that resembles a hyphen, but longer. A dash is used to separate part of a sentence and indicate a break. It indicates a longer pause than a comma and a semicolon. It is also called a long dash or an em dash.
Do you always need two dashes?
Em-dashes can be used to suggest an afterthought, to set off extra information within a sentence, to signal an abrupt shift, and to emphasize a thought or sentence. Em-dashes can be used to summarize or illustrate a thought as in the example below.
Is there a space after dash?
1. To set off material for emphasis. Think of dashes as the opposite of parentheses. Where parentheses indicate that the reader should put less emphasis on the enclosed material, dashes indicate that the reader should pay more attention to the material between the dashes.
Can a dash separate two sentences?
to go somewhere quickly: The dog ran off, and she dashed after him. UK I've been dashing around all day. UK I should dash - I have to be home by seven.
Where do we use the dash?
The adjective dashing is almost always used to describe men, and for that reason it's a bit old-fashioned. In the 18th and 19th centuries "to cut a dash" meant "to act brilliantly" or "to give a showy appearance," and dashing came from this meaning.
Why do people text with dashes?
(dæʃɪŋ ) adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun] A dashing person or thing is very stylish and attractive.
Why do people put a dash after a sentence?
idiom. British, informal + old-fashioned. used in speech to express anger, frustration, etc. Dash it all! I've forgotten my keys!
What does dash mean in UK slang?
Meaning “to run quickly” in English, Dash as a name comes from Dashiell—an anglicized form of the Scottish surname de Chiel.
Is dashing used for boys?
When should words be hyphenated?
What is a dashing girl?
Does highest quality need a hyphen?
What does dash it all mean?
Cooks eventually wanted to account for even smaller measurements and came up with a few other terms. Dash – 1/8 teaspoon or half of a tad. Like the verb to quickly move, dash described the quickness of adding a spice (or other ingredient) from a spice bottle.
What does dash name mean?
Dash is Python framework for building web applications. It built on top of Flask, Plotly. js, React and React Js. It enables you to build dashboards using pure Python. Dash is open source, and its apps run on the web browser.