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#Why isn em dash on keyboard professional#

Extra emphasis can also help establish our tone. That makes em dash rules easy to remember-em dashes are used to off-set and emphasize part of a sentence or clause. In many cases, the commas are used similarly to parentheses to off-set thoughts or interject more information. Replacing commasĮm dashes can replace commas in certain situations. The em dash allows our brains to pause while reading, and the point of the sentence is driven home. The same sentences are easier to read with an em dash because the colons are nearly unnoticeable.

They had three granddaughters-Elizabeth, Jane, and Kitty.

I could hear my English professor’s mantra in my mind-poignancy over word count.

Let’s look at those same sentences to compare the difference in punctuation. They also stand out more-our brains pick up on the negative space, which adds emphasis to the end of your sentence. While colons are formal and unassuming, em dashes look more conversational.

They had three granddaughters: Elizabeth, Jane, and Kitty.

I could hear my English professor’s mantra in my mind: poignancy over word count.

Colons are also used to start a list at the end of a sentence or clause. Replacing colonsĬolons are often used similarly to off-set thoughts, but they are used at the end of a clause instead of the middle. If this is the case, em dashes help the information stand out more, but you should get rid of the commas. Sometimes parenthetical thoughts may be marked with commas, which we’ll discuss in further detail below. When you use an em dash in place of parentheses, it’s important to omit any other preceding or following punctuation.

We bought tablecloths in our wedding colors-teal, purple, and yellow-to brighten up the venue.

He asked-well, more like demanded-to be given the promotion.

I gathered the children-all thirty-five of them-and led them to the bus.

We use them all the time when we speak, but you might have trouble thinking of written examples. When parentheses are used to off-set thoughts within a sentence, em dashes can take their place.Ī parenthetical thought either provides more information or is used similarly to an interjection. Parentheses also come across as very formal because they are so often used in academic and technical writing, so they may not match the voice of your piece.

For example, when we’re used to seeing parentheses show in-text citations, we may not read what’s inside them even when it’s very important information. Parentheses are used for so many different things in writing that we often overlook them. How do you know when it’s correct to replace one of those punctuation marks with an em dash? Let’s look at several instances when em dashes can become your new best friend. At its most basic definition, an em dash can be used to replace commas, colons, semicolons, and parentheses. Think of an em dash like a kitchen gadget that you can use in many situations, from scraping to stirring to spreading. When Do I Use an Em Dash?Ĭelebrity chef Alton Brown has said many times that unitools, kitchen gadgets with only one function, have no place in the kitchen. Keep reading for a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about this punctuation multitool. (See that em dash in the previous sentence?) That’s easy to remember, right? The em dash is bigger than an en dash, which is about the width of the letter N. It gets its name from its size-about the width of the letter M when typed. The em dash is a longer dash, the length of two connected hyphens. It triggers readers’ brains to insert a slightly longer pause than a comma or semicolon, which can aid in reading comprehension. The em dash is versatile and can be used in place of many other punctuation marks, which increases sentence variety and readability.

#Why isn em dash on keyboard professional#

It looks sleek and professional when you write. The em dash is one of the most under-appreciated punctuation marks. Try ProWritingAid’s Editor for Yourself.What’s the Difference Between an Em Dash, an En Dash, and a Hyphen?.