How To Use Dashes In A Sentence

Dashes are used to extend a sentence to replace colons semicolons or three dots.

How to use dashes in a sentence. A dash can be used to add emphasis at the beginning middle or end of a sentence. It is used in the same manner as a parenthetical expression. Dashes can also be used as parenthesis. It is usually used as an alternative to another type of punctuation. Use a longer em dash to join independent clauses with words like and but as or and for.

To properly use a dash in an english sentence start by identifying which dash you should use. The name em indicates that the dash is roughly the size of the letter m. A dash is a little horizontal line that floats in the middle of a line of text not at the bottom. Dashes can be are used as an alternative to other punctuation marks to. An em dash is used to indicate a break in a sentence or question.

Example sentences with the word dashes. This is a punctuation lesson on using dashes. A dash is a versatile punctuation mark that can be used within a sentence instead of brackets or a colon to show parenthesis. A dash mustn t be confused with a hyphen which is used to combine words together and is slightly shorter in length than a dash. When used as parentheses dashes are alternatives to brackets or commas.

Rather than placing parentheses around a phrase within a statement writers can opt to surround the phrase with an em dash on either end. How are dashes used. How to use dashes in a sentence. Dashes are used to separate groups of words not to separate parts of words like a hyphen does. Read also about the difference between dashes and hyphens.

It s longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. Dashes are often used to signal an abrupt change in a sentence indicating that the reader should pay close attention to what comes next.