How To Use Em Dashes In Dialogue

Ellipses and em dashes can be used to add rhythm and realism to dialogue but they can be distracting if too many of them pile up in quick succession.
How to use em dashes in dialogue. Em dashes in place of parentheses. Emphasize important or essential information em dashes can be used to emphasize important or essential information midsentence or at the end of sentences. Changes of thought while speaking stammering or brief and long pauses. Write for fifteen minutes on the following writing prompt. If you want to include the parenthetical content more subtly use parentheses.
2 the weary traveler forgot something in the airport bathroom her plane ticket. A pair of em dashes can replace a pair of parentheses. When your time is up post your practice in the comments section. If you want to draw attention to the parenthetical content use dashes. To show an interruption of the spoken words include an em dash inside the quotation marks at the point where the dialogue is interrupted.
They are also more intrusive. Although colons and commas can serve the same function em dashes create a more dramatic effect. Three types of punctuation signify interrupted dialogue. It is often used in place of colons or semicolons. So use them judiciously.
Nonbreaking space in word for windows. Some people have different tastes but here are a few examples and rules to let you know when to use. An em dash is also useful in dialogue to show a break in thought that s abrupt rather than a trailing thought that gets an ellipsis. Use em dashes to provide insight into the mind of the characters or to show interruptions in dialogue. Ctrl shift spacebar ellipsis character in word for windows.
The em dash is not always correct though. Dashes are considered less formal than parentheses. To answer your last question amanda ellipses can be correct. The hyphen the em dash and the ellipsis. Authors like to use em dashes in all three cases.