How To Use Dashes In Middle Of Sentence

To properly use a dash in an english sentence start by identifying which dash you should use.
How to use dashes in middle of sentence. Depending on the context the em dash can take the place of commas parentheses or colons in each case to slightly different effect. On a windows based system you can form an em dash on a keyboard by holding down the alt key and typing 0151 to create the em dash on a macintosh based system hold down the shift and option keys and press the minus key notes techwalla adding that alternatively you can. This is a punctuation lesson on using dashes. Use a dash to show a pause or break in meaning in the middle of a sentence. Read also about the difference between dashes and hyphens.
What is an em dash and when should you use it. Dashes can also be used as parenthesis. A good way to remember the difference between these two dashes is to visualize the en dash as the length of the letter n and the em dash as the length of the letter m. On both sides of a list in the middle of a sentence when that list contains commas. To show a range of dates times or values.
Use a longer em dash to join independent clauses with words like and but as or and for. These dashes not only differ in length. The material inside the dashes relates to the information in the rest of the sentence but it acts as an interruption to the main point that you re making. Notwithstanding its versatility the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence. Dashes are often used informally instead of commas colons and brackets.
Dashes are often used to signal an abrupt change in a sentence. The words between a pair of dashes may or may not form a complete sentence. A dash may or may not have a space on either side of it. Two dashes can emphasize material in the middle of a sentence. Confusing louie stormed into the room and took four items off the desk a pen a paper clip and two sheets of paper before leaving in a hurry.
The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. Ap style calls for a space on both sides of an em dash but most other styles including mla and apa omit the spaces. Dashes are used to extend a sentence to replace colons semicolons or three dots. Do not confuse a dash with a hyphen which is shorter. Place em dashes around non essential information or a list in the middle of a sentence like you would with commas.