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This video will help you understand the use of dashes.

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Our Story

The Quick Answer

This page offers an explanation on the correct use of dashes and gives examples of dashes used in sentences.

For the most part, the dash does not have a unique role in grammar. It is usually used as an alternative to another punctuation mark. For example:

A dash can be used to insert a break in a sentence to replace:

a colon (e.g., It depends on one thing - trust.)

a semicolon (e.g., It depends on trust - it always has.)

three dots used as a pause for effect (e.g., It needed - trust.)

Dashes can be used as alternatives to brackets and commas. For example:

It depends - as my mother used to say - on trust.

A dash can be used between dates. For example:

World War II ran 1939-1945.

A dash can be used to credit a quotation. For example:

"Love is a serious mental disease." - Plato

Rules for Using Dashes
Generally speaking, the dash does not have a unique role. It is usually used as an alternative to another type of punctuation.

When usedto extend a sentence, a dash can replace a semicolon (;), a colon (:), or three dots (...) used as a pause for effect.

When used as parentheses,dashes are alternatives to brackets or commas.

There are two kinds of dash: theem dash (-) and the en dash (-). The em dash is the same length as the character "M" (uppercase), and the en dash is same length as the letter "n" (lowercase).

As dashes do not feature on a standard keyboard, lots of people use hyphens instead of dashes. That's not really such a crime, but it's something of a missed opportunity to show off that you know the difference between a hyphen and a dash. Some writers like to use two hyphens (--) to represent one dash to differentiate.

Here are the four main dash-like characters ordered longest to shortest:

Name

Punctuation

How To Get One

em dash

-

Ctl + Alt + minus (on the numeric pad)

minus sign

−

minus (on the numeric pad)

en dash

-

Ctl + minus (on the numeric pad)

hyphen

-

- (the key to the right of "0")

Here they are again but in a bigger font size.

Name

Punctuation

em dash

-

minus sign

−

hyphen

-

en dash

-

The hyphen and theen dash are almost indistinguishable from each other when using normal size fonts.
Using Dashes with Times and Dates

A dash can be used between times and dates. (A dash will usually replace the wordsfromto or betweenand.) For example:

USSR existed 1922-1991.

USSR existed between 1922 and 1991.

USSR existed from 1922 to 1991.

USSR existed 1922 to 1991.

The project will be delivered January-June.

I will visit 13 January-24 January

I will visit 0800-0900.

The format with the dash is most common in tables. For example:

Time

Event

0800-0830

Introduction

0830-0930

Lesson 1

0930-1030

Lesson 2

Note: If you're a stickler for the rules, use anen dash between times and dates. You will get away with a hyphen. Do not use an em dash.
Using Dashes in Compound Adjectives with Equal Parts

A dash can replace a hyphen in a compound adjective with two equal elements. For example:

The India-Pakistan issue

The NATO-Warsaw Pact agreement

Note: If you're a stickler for the rules, use an en dash in your adjective. You will get away with a hyphen. Do not use an em dash.
Using Dashes to Extend Sentences

A dash can be used to replace a colon which is offering more information about something mentioned previously in the sentence. For example:

She demanded just one thing from her students: effort.

She demanded just one thing from her students - effort.

A dash can be used to replace a semicolon which replaced a full stop / period to give a smoother transition between two sentences: For example:

She demanded effort from her students. That's all she ever asked for.

She demanded effort from her students; that's all she ever asked for.

She demanded effort from her students - that's all she ever asked for.
(semicolon replaced by a dash)
A dash can be used to replace three dots used as a pause for effect. For example:

As she prodded through the sludge, something caught her eye. It was the unblemished unmistakable sparkle of ... the diamond on her grandmother's ring.

As she prodded through the sludge, something caught her eye. It was the unblemished unmistakable sparkle of - the diamond on her grandmother's ring.

Good news! There are specific rules about when to use a semicolon, a colon, or three dots, so you have to know what you're doing if you choose one of them. One of the good things about a dash is that it can be used as a substitute for all three.

Bad news! Using dashes every single time is not a good look. It will also cut down on your options for expressing yourself and showcasing your grammar skills. Therefore, you must still learn how to use the others. (You could think of the dash as a get-out-of-jail-free card that you can use occasionally.)

Note: If you're a stickler for the rules, use anem dash to extend a sentence. You will get away with an en dash or a hyphen.

Read more about dashes to extend a sentence
Using Dashes as Parentheses

We're all familiar with putting explanations or afterthoughts in brackets (just like this). But, brackets are just one of the choices you have for inserting extra information into a sentence. You can also use commas or dashes. For example:

Mark Jones (who has lived in our village for 20 years) is the world Scrabble champion and the national Cluedo champion.

Mark Jones - who has lived in our village for 20 years - is the world Scrabble champion and the national Cluedo champion.

Mark Jones, who has lived in our village for 20 years, is the world Scrabble champion and the national Cluedo champion.
(commas used)
Dashes tend to be used when there are other commas in the sentence and when brackets would seem a little too informal. For example:

Last week, Dr Mark Jones - a resident of Bexley since he graduated from Bexley Secondary School in 1990 - was crowned, for the second year running, the world Scrabble champion.

You don't need to justify using dashes for parentheses, but just be aware that they can look a little stark.

Note: If you're a stickler for the rules, use anem dash for parentheses. You will get away with en dashes or hyphens.

Read more about dashes for parentheses
Using Dashes to Credit Quotations

You can use anem dash to credit a quote to someone. For example:

"There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed." - Peter Sellers (1925-1980)
em dash before Peter Sellers, and an en dash between 1925 and 1980.)
Note: You have to use an em dash when crediting a quotation. An en dash or hyphen looks wrong.
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See Also
Apostrophes Brackets Colons Commas Hyphens Semicolons Quotation Marks

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Our Story The Quick Answer This page offers an explanation on the correct use of dashes and gives examples of dashes used in sentences. For the most part, the dash does not have a unique role in grammar. It is usually used as an alternative to another punctuation mark.

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Participantes: Ariel Jiménez, Johan Cerdas, Karen Gómez, Andrea Cubillo

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This video helps us understand the use of semicolon

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COLON | English grammar | How to use punctuation correctly

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Learn how to identify and use the colon in a sentence!

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How to use the Period (Full Stop) | English 101 | Punctuated!

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How to Use a Period Correctly

Of all types of punctuation, the period is perhaps the easiest to use. Even so, if you are new to writing in English, you may have questions about when and how to use periods.

What is a Period?

A period is a small dot-shaped punctuation mark that is used at the end of any sentence that is intended to make a statement. As with other punctuation marks that end sentences, the period should be placed directly behind the last letter of the last word of the sentence.

When to Use Periods

Use periods in sentences that make statements.

My dog retrieves the paper for me each morning.

Gloria wants to be a nurse after she finishes high school.

Our city's police cars are painted black and white.

You should also use periods at the end of sentences that are intended to instruct or command.

Rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

Lock the door behind you.

Place recyclable items in the blue bin next to the dumpster.

Periods can also be used at the end of a sentence that contains an indirect question.

The coach asked Jared why he was late for practice.

My mother used to wonder why my brother's room was cluttered.

I have something to ask you.

How to Use Periods

After ending a sentence with a period, insert a single space before beginning the next sentence. This rule has only been in place since modern word processing became common - back in the days when people used typewriters, one would insert two spaces behind periods and other punctuation marks that end sentences. Periods are also used with abbreviations. In the event that the abbreviation ends a statement, a command, or an indirect question, the period that ends that abbreviation is also used to complete the sentence.

If you want to visit the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of American History, you will need to travel to Washington, D.C.

Arrive at 5:30 p.m. to get a seat for the concert; it begins at 6 p.m.

Although acronyms are abbreviations, they do not normally require periods. If you are using an acronym that is pronounced as a word such as NOW, NATO, RADAR, or SCUBA, you don't need to insert periods between the letters. If you are using an acronym that is pronounced by speaking the letters individually, you may or may not need to use periods between the letters. Some examples include FBI, NBA, NCAA, NAACP, U.S.A., and U.N.I.C.E.F.

Would you like to learn more? Ginger's grammar handbook teaches you how to properly use quotation marks, exclamation marks, Question marks, commas, semicolons, colons and Apostrophes

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That's correct! Here's why:

The appearance of quotation marks does not automatically call for a comma. If the quoted words are being incorporated into the grammar of your own sentence, punctuate the same way you would if the words weren't in quotation marks.

However, if you begin with "He says" or something equivalent and follow that with a sentence, that is a different situation and does indeed require a comma. For example:

The CEO said, "My successor is a profoundly ethical leader."

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