How do you use 3-em dashes in a sentence?
3-em dashes are generally used to omit a name that should not be disclosed or to signal that word(s) have been left out. This particular dash is normally used in legal documents to protect the innocent. You can either use six hyphens or use an underscore.
How do you make a 3-em dash in word?
Creating a 3-em Dash
You can find the em dash in the symbol drop-down menu in Microsoft Word. Alternatively, press CTRL + ALT + minus key on the numeric keypad, three times. If you're using the proper font (Times New Roman 12), the three dashes will make a solid line. Add a period after the 3-em dash.
How do you use multiple dashes?
Two dashes can emphasize material in the middle of a sentence. Some style and grammar guides even permit you to write a complete sentence within the dashes. Example: Everything I saw in my new neighborhood—from the graceful elm trees to the stately brick buildings—reminded me of my alma mater.
How many times should you use an em dash?
The em-dash is the most common dash seen in fiction writing. It's called an em-dash because it's about the same width as a printed capital letter M. When you use an em-dash, you should only use one at a time. The em-dash is excellent at setting off parenthetical thoughts.
How many em dashes can you use in a sentence?
The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons—in each case to slightly different effect. Notwithstanding its versatility, the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence.
Do I use too many em dashes?
Avoid using more than 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.
Is an em dash two or three dashes?
An em dash is automatically created in Word if you type a first word, two hyphens back-to-back, then a second word, with no spaces in between. The em dash is an informal, flashy kind of punctuation. It is often used for dramatic emphasis.
What is the shortcut for the 3 em dash?
After the Compose key is enabled, you can create an em dash by typing the Compose key followed by three hyphens. Alternatively, press Control+Shift+U .
How to do a 2 em dash in Word?
There is a distinct 2-em dash character which can be copied and pasted, but not all fonts support it. In MS Word on a PC, type 2e3a Alt x [type 2e3a then hold down Alt and x].
Can you use two sets of em dashes in a sentence?
Use em dashes (rather than commas or parentheses) when the words within the interpolation are significant and are not to be missed. Don't use more than two em dashes in a single sentence. The double hyphen is a vestige of the typewriter era and is no longer standard practice (except in comics).
Can you use two em dashes?
A two-em dash, ——, is used to indicate missing letters in a word and, less frequently, to indicate a missing word.
Can you use two em dashes in a sentence?
Em dashes are often used to set off parenthetical information. Using em dashes instead of parentheses puts the focus on the information between the em dashes. For this usage, make sure you use two em dashes. Use one before the parenthetical information and one after it.
When not to use an em dash?
Don't use an em dash in a sentence that already uses “advanced” punctuation. Commas? Sure. But packing an em dash into a sentence that already has a colon or semicolon is a sure sign that you're trying to do too much.
Is em dash formal?
The question was - Is the emm dash or en dash used in writing formal or informal? You may use it whenever you like. An em-dash is typically used as a stand-in for a comma or parenthesis to separate out phrases—or even just a word—in a sentence for various reasons (i.e. an appositive).
What are the rules for 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!
Do you always need two 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 an example of a 2 em dash?
The 2 em dash can be used to indicate missing letters in a word, either because material is missing or illegible, or to conceal a name. For example, Mr. H—— and Mr.
How do you not overuse an em dash?
Em dashes are extremely versatile, but they should not be overused. If you have an em dash in every other paragraph, for instance, take a moment to come up with a different sentence construction or punctuation mark instead. Overuse dilutes their emphasis and can make your writing choppy.
Why do writers use em dashes?
Dashes—or, more properly, em dashes (so called because they're the width of an uppercase letter M)—are interrupters. You use them to set aside a clause that interrupts the flow of a sentence.
What is the 3 em dash bibliography?
The use of three em dashes (———.) was previously used in Chicago style reference lists in place of multiple successive entries of a single author's name. However, in it's 17th edition, the Chicago Manual of Style discourages the use of three em dashes (———.) to replace author's names.
What is an em dash example?
Here are some more examples em dashes in sentences. He asked—well, more like demanded—to be given the promotion. They had three granddaughters—Elizabeth, Jane, and Kitty. She graduated college—with honors—with a degree in software engineering.
What is the difference between em dash and en dash?
The en dash is longer than a hyphen, but shorter than an em dash (–). It is mainly used between dates to mark a span of time. However, if you have a two-word adjective phrase that must be connected to a noun, an en dash is used instead of a hyphen to create a variant of the compound adjective.
How many dashes is an em dash?
There are three kinds of dashes: the em dash, the en dash, 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 width of the letter N and the em dash as the width of the letter M.
How many hyphens is an em dash?
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.
Can you use only one em dash?
Because the em dash conveys a sharp shift or a jolt, it doesn't need a second one to end it if the thought it contains ends the sentence. “That would be my last errand for the day—or so I had thought.”
Should you use an em dash in academic writing?
Because em dashes are used for insertion of information in a non-linear way, that is, out of order, there is probably a better, more linear way to express it. If you must insert information out of order, use parentheses. In general, I don't recommend using em dashes in academic writing, particularly in APA style.
Can I use em dashes in formal writing?
It is often used in place of colons or semicolons. It is also common to use a pair of em dashes to replace parentheses or a pair of commas. Using the em dash (or a pair of em dashes) to replace other marks is not always appropriate. In formal writing, avoid using dashes unless they are really necessary.
Do the British use em dashes?
In the UK, we tend to have ditched the em dash unless it's for punctuating speech. Instead, we use the en dash with a space either side.
Is em dash formal or informal?
However, the em dash is usually viewed as being more informal than these other punctuation marks, so writers will often use em dashes sparingly but effectively when they want to draw a reader's attention.
How do you type an em dash?
If you have a numeric keyboard, hold down the Alt key and type 0151 for an em dash or 0150 for an en dash.
Do you need a full sentence after a dash?
They are used to create a slight sense of drama or suspense. Grammatically, this use is more or less interchangeable with #2: a full, standalone sentence must come before the dash, but either a sentence or a fragment can follow.
What comes after an em dash?
If the sentence is interrupted by the em dash and the interrupted part is a complete sentence, a comma or a period can be used after the em dash depending on the desired effect. If the interruption is a complete sentence and the second part of the sentence is a continuation of the first part, use a comma.
Can you use an em dash in dialogue?
If dialogue is interrupted by action only (i.e. with no dialogue tag), you can indicate this with a pair of em dashes. Note that on this occasion they sit outside the quotation marks and have spaces either side. Examples: “Alright” – he smacked his hands together – “who else is having soup?”
Can an em dash replace a semicolon?
The em-dash is the most versatile—and the most abrupt—punctuation mark a writer can use. The em-dash, also called the long dash or long hyphen, is a form of punctuation writers can use instead of commas, parentheses, colons, and semicolons.
Can you use two sets of em dashes in a sentence?
What are the 3 most common styles of bibliographies used?
What is an example of sentences with em dashes?
How do you use em dashes in Chicago style?
How do you use two em dashes in a sentence?
How do you write a bibliography with 3 or more authors?
What is an example of a 2 em dash?
Use em dashes (rather than commas or parentheses) when the words within the interpolation are significant and are not to be missed. Don't use more than two em dashes in a single sentence. The double hyphen is a vestige of the typewriter era and is no longer standard practice (except in comics).