How To Use Two Dashes In A Sentence

Do not use an em dash.

How to use two dashes in a sentence. Many students have trouble identifying the right time to use a dash or a hyphen. While the two look similar they aren t the same let s take a look at the different types of dashes you can use in your writing and when and when not to use a hyphen what is an em dash and when should you use it an em dash also called a long dash or thick dash is approximately the width of the. Using dashes to extend sentences. The nato warsaw pact agreement. The fairgrounds cold and wet in the october rain were deserted.

Using dashes in compound adjectives with equal parts a dash can replace a hyphen in a compound adjective with two equal elements. 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. You will get away with a hyphen. Words or phrases that describe a noun can be set off with dashes if you wish to emphasize them. However some people use only one dash to tack a complete sentence onto another complete sentence.

When the dash is used in this way it creates a compound adjective. Use an en dash when you need to connect terms that are already hyphenated or when you are using a two word phrase as a modifier. To indicate sentence introductions or conclusions. Nettie her chin held high walked out into the storm. The dash is a handy device informal and esentially playful telling you that you re about to take off on a different tack but still in some way connected with the present course only you have to remember that the dash is there and either put a second dash at the end of the notion to let the reader know that he s back on course or else end the sentence as here with a period.

If you re a stickler for the rules use an en dash in your adjective. The words between a pair of dashes may or may not form a complete sentence.