How To Use Comma Dash

An em dash is made by typing two hyphens.

How to use comma dash. Movie night is more of an aside or comment than a clarification. The dashes have a slightly more emphatic feel making the reader focus on this information that is set inside the special marks. This handout explains the most common uses of three kinds of punctuation. When a thought is left unfinished however a dash should be used instead. Em dashes can be used in pairs to replace commas when writing a parenthetical or interruptive phrase.

You could use dashes. After reading the handout you will be better able to decide when to use these forms of punctuation in your own writing. You re more likely to miss a punctuation question by adding unnecessary punctuation than by leaving out punctuation that s needed. Notwithstanding its versatility the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence. Conversely use a shorter en dash to indicate a range of numbers like 10 15.

The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. It doesn t seem like enough of an interruption or a dramatic statement to me to merit dashes but it s a judgment call. Take a look at this example. Use a dash to cut off dialogue. Only use commas semicolons colons or dashes if you identify a situation that requires them.

Use a dash to show a pause or break in meaning in the middle of a sentence. Parenthetical phrase with commas. Use a longer em dash to join independent clauses with words like and but as or and for. Place em dashes around non essential information or a list in the middle of a sentence like you would with commas. My brothers richard and john are visiting hanoi.

For example i never said he began when typing a completed sentence a comma precedes the closing quotation mark and the attribution. Semicolons colons and dashes. What this handout is about. The comma before that is unnecessary. 1 the use of comma is for depicting a brief pause when one has to provide side information about something.