The hyphen, the en dash, and the em dash...please help!

I think, so long as it suits the pacing of the sentence/isn't used overly much it's fine. Six times in a 4k work is probably just fine, although context is of course everything. I like my em-dashes and semicolons far more than I perhaps should, but I try not to overdo it.

I use em dash ALL THE TIME and have been criticized for it.
Technically, the em dash is used as an aesthetic replacement to the brackets ( and ). Its really helpful when you want to break mid-sentence for a brief elaboration on a word or phrase. The elaboration is usually details that doesn't otherwise fit into the paragraph, but not a complete sentence.

Personally, I'm a fan of sentense fragments, but they have to be used properly. The em dash is a good way to muse them while meeting grammatical rules.

Disclosure. It't really easy to mess this up. Oh, and you have to avoid over using them em dash.

There's one use of the em dash where grammar almost requires it: if you have a subordinate clause that contains commas

It was only to be expected that Troy should fall — and fall emphatically, its very location effaced and, for millennia, forgotten — because the Gods and heroes on the Greek side were among the most powerful in the Greek pantheon.

from: https://english.stackexchange.com/quest ... ting-comma

Although in fiction writing I think it's rare that that construction is ideal. Normally shorter sentences make for greater fluency.

In fiction, we use an em dash to indicate interrupted speech:
"You know, you really should--"
"I really should, what?"

The comparison here between em dash use, comma use, and paren use is instructive
https://www.eliteprep.com/blog/2017/9/2 ... ith-dashes
(Go to "Em Dashes as Parentheses or Commas (Most Common)")

Two other things about em dash:
* It is incredibly versatile as far as punctuation goes. It can replace most other punctuation and your sentence will still be be more or less grammatical. this means if you use it, you generally make your prose less precise, which is why it's good to avoid
* it is more emphatic than a comma because it visually offsets a clause.

I noticed some people use a space at either side of the em dash, and some don't. I was under the impression, no space.

I noticed some people use a space at either side of the em dash, and some don't. I was under the impression, no space.

You turn off your em dash in autocorrect, and type two en dashes, no space before or after. Like this—yes, there’s two dashes in there. The copy editor sets the em dash.

I noticed some people use a space at either side of the em dash, and some don't. I was under the impression, no space.

I'm fond of the em dash and I suspect I'm guilty of inconsistency with spaces around the em dash. I don't uses spaces when i use em dashes to show an action interrupting dialogue. I probably do use spaces other times - and it looks like that is wrong - see https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/em-dash.html It says: The em dash is typically used without spaces on either side, and that is the style used in this guide. Most newspapers, however, set the em dash off with a single space on each side. (so perhaps my inconsistency can be forgiven!)

I always use a space - otherwise it looks like a hyphenated word. Or maybe it's because I'm incorrectly using a hyphen. Either way I'm a reluctant user. Maybe because I'm using it incorrectly.

https://www.shunn.net/format/story/

Shunn manuscript format is always a good source for this kind of thing. On page 4 of the modern guide, it says:

If you want to indicate an em dash--the punctuation that sets off this phrase--simply type two hyphens. Most word processors will convert the two hyphens to a dash automatically. (Courier users might want to turn off this particular feature of autocorrect, since in monospaced fonts a dash is difficult to distinguish from a lone hyphen.) There’s no need to put spaces around the dash.

I do love me the em dash. Mmm hmm. Lovely long-legged em dash. <Aherm> Yes, well, like any love affair, I'm probably over-doing it. Another use of the em dash is to force a pause in the narrative. A narrative beat, if you will, that lasts slightly longer than what you get with a standard boring comma. What can I say, it's what I hear inside my head...? I do find myself deleting many em dashes during revision and replacing them with commas or new sentences, just to put some variety into the work. But that em dash...mmm...she beckons to me...

I use the em-dash wildly and with abandon. I use it for asides, and internal thoughts, and subordinate clauses that require commas. However, I make sure that the use a) fits the voice/rhythm of the piece and b) doesn’t distract readers. But on first drafts it is an em-dash paradise. 

On second thought, you should probably listen to @andydibble here and use sparingly ?

I looked this up for us guys! Per the CMoS, em-dashes are most commonly used:

To set off matter inserted in mid-sentence. (an inserted phrase that, because of what it modifies, needs to go in the middle of the sentence)

To set off—but emphasized—parenthetical matter.

To tack on an important afterthought.

To introduce a specification or list. (when more of a pause is suggested then a colon might convey)

To show hesitation, faltering, or interruption.

The CMoS states not to use em-dashes more than twice in a sentence, and not after a comma, colon, semicolon, or terminal period. (A question mark or exclamation point is acceptable though).

No spaces around the em-dash (APA will have different rules, I'm referencing fiction writing), and are created by doing 2 hyphens placed together (--) or with a keyboard shortcut on PCs: Alt+0151 (on a Mac I believe it's Option, Shift, and Minus keys, but I'm not a Mac user, so don't quote me on that shortcut).

I think the em-dash is popular in part because it's versatile and it's a stylistic choice that is visually appealing on the page—it's okay to love them ??

~A.

Posted by: @aliciacay

I think the em-dash is popular in part because it's versatile and it's a stylistic choice that is visually appealing on the page--it's okay to love them ??

~A.

 

Oh, thank goodness. Because I really really do.

That was amazing, thank you! This is why you guys should get her to help with proofreading your stories. She is amazing!

@aliciacay That’s the level of detail I needed on my em-dash usage! And so armed, I shall go out and conquer—I mean—write about conquering the world!

Posted by: @aliciacay

I think the em-dash is popular in part because it's versatile and it's a stylistic choice that is visually appealing on the page--it's okay to love them ??

~A.

 

See, this is exactly what I needed—someone to look me in the eye and tell me the secret love affair going on between Em Dash and me is perfectly and acceptably FINE. "...it's okay to love [her]." Thank you!

Posted by: @morgan-broadhead

Posted by: @aliciacay

I think the em-dash is popular in part because it's versatile and it's a stylistic choice that is visually appealing on the page--it's okay to love them ??

~A.

 

See, this is exactly what I needed—someone to look me in the eye and tell me the secret love affair going on between Em Dash and me is perfectly and acceptably FINE. "...it's okay to love [her]." Thank you!

yass!    

For those like me who do not posses the grey matter to memorize too many rules, let my simpleton brain simplify it. The dash is a comma on steroids. Use it like a comma, but when you need a little more punch, a little more emphasis --when the phrase needs a little more separation.

Just discovered this little gem in case anyone needs a quick keyboard shortcut in MS Word

- (dash/hyphen, same symbol as the minus key on your keyboard)

– (en dash, Alt key + 8211 on the numeric pad)

— (em dash, Alt key + 0151 on the numeric pad, because sometimes typing a double hyphen doesn't work)

Then there's this handy summary from Merriam-Webster on when to use each:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/em-dash-en-dash-how-to-use

Enjoy!

@morgan-broadhead 

Good article! Thanks for sharing. I will the en and em dashes—as every writer should.