4/20/2023 0 Comments Em dash for mac![]() 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. 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?.
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