![]() For example:Ī dash (always an "em dash") can be used to credit a quotation. (6) A Dash in a Compound Adjective with Equal PartsĪ dash (generally, an "en dash") can replace a hyphen in a compound adjective with two equal elements. When using a dash to separate times and dates, omit words like "from.to." and "between.and." (5) A Dash to Replace "From.To." or "Between.And."Ī dash (generally, an "en dash") can be used between times and dates. She is only interested in one thing - money.She is only interested in one thing: money.He cannot afford it - the flight alone is too much.Ī dash (generally, an "em dash") can be used to replace a colon to introduce an appositive.He cannot afford it the flight alone is too much.For example:Ī dash (generally, an "em dash") can replace a semicolon used to merge two independent clauses. On Saturday, I took the club secretary - Pat Derbyshire - to Skegness.Ī dash (generally, an "em dash") can replace three dots when used as a pause for effect.On Saturday, I took the club secretary (Pat Derbyshire) to Skegness.Here are the seven ways that dashes are used:ĭashes (generally, "em dashes") can be used as parentheses. What Are Dashes Used For?ĭashes do not have a unique use (i.e., they are used in places where other punctuation marks could be used). Read more on our main page about using dashes. (As most keyboards do not have a dash readily at hand, some writers use two hyphens (-) to represent a dash, but most just use a hyphen.) A dash should not be confused with a hyphen (-), which is used as a joiner in compound adjectives (e.g., "first-class restaurant") and compound nouns (e.g., "water-bottle").ĭashes are slightly longer than hyphens when handwritten. It was some kind of jack-in-the-box–like gizmo.A dash (-) is a punctuation mark with several uses.The coach knew how to play against a Dallas Cowboys–style offense.However, many style guides consider it proper to use an en dash if a compound word involves a multiple word proper noun or includes another hyphenated compound within it. Many compound words use a hyphen or no punctuation at all. ✅ Correct: We use between 10 and 20 rolls of paper towels a week. ❌ Incorrect: We use between 10–20 rolls of paper towels a week. ✅ Correct: She works from Monday to Friday. ❌ Incorrect: She works from Monday–Friday. Typically, it is advised not to use an en dash if using the word from or between with a range: Tight security is maintained at the US–Canada border.jog 'What do you do to keep in shape' 'I jog and go swimming. Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples to run run She saw him running down the street. UK I should dash - I have to be home by seven. A dash () is basically a piece of a horizontal line that floats in the middle of a line of the sentence. to go somewhere quickly: The dog ran off, and she dashed after him. It is more dramatic to interrupt a thought with a dash than a phrase enclosed in commas, but less dramatic than parentheses. We looked at media coverage of the Iran–Iraq War. Definition The dash is a punctuation mark that can be used alone or as a group to indicate an idea within a sentence.(The train operates on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday as well as Monday and Friday.)įinally, the en dash is also used to indicate a close relationship between two things, such as two opposing forces or two members of a partnership: We rode the Monday–Friday train to Atlanta.(The months between May and September are also covered by the catalog.) I read through the May–September issue of the catalog.However, the en dash can also represent a range that includes multiple things: Years: The years 1929–1939 were very hard for Americans.Voting results: By a vote of 55–45, the chamber passed the new bill.Time limits: Most of my friends work 30–40 hour work weeks.Page numbers: Our homework problems are on pages 10–15.Many ranges and results that use an en dash involve numbers: When read aloud, the en dash is read as the word to or through. Ranges, tallies, and relationshipsĪn en dash is used to represent a range or a tally. Many style guides follow these general uses of an en dash, but you should consult your style guide or grammar resource of choice to confirm when an en dash should be used. That being said, people will often use a hyphen instead of an en dash in informal writing in many of these situations. The en dash has specific instances where it is typically used. ![]() ![]() She was in charge of several South Korea – based companies.We took the Monday – Friday bus to the zoo.The Bandwagoners defeated the Underdogs by a score of 7 – 6.Your homework is to read pages 25 – 45.The following sentences show some examples of when we might use an en dash. ![]()
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