As we dash to the end of 2016, it’s important to remember there are different kinds of dashes: the hyphen, the en dash, and the em dash.
Writers often confuse these marks and use them inconsistently. (This confusion originally began with the switch from typewriters to computers; typewriters have only a hyphen.)
Each kind of dash serves a different purpose.
The hyphen (-) is used to form compound words and to divide words for printing purposes. It is also used to connect grouped numbers (but not ranges of numbers).
The En dash (–) is used to specify a range (e.g., November–January) or to connect a prefix to an open compound (e.g., post–holiday season).
The Em dash (—) is used to set aside parenthetical elements (commas can be used this way too) or to show a break in dialogue.
Use of a hyphen where an em dash is needed is an error I see often. It creates confusion because it can make a sentence nearly impossible to understand.
Do you see how the sentence below is difficult to understand?
The snowman was tall—almost seven feet-and his nose was orange; it was a carrot-and it was frozen.
It looks as if the sentence above has two obscure compound words. (What do “feet-and” and “carrot-and” mean?) These kinds of inconsistencies will slow your readers down and give them too much work to do to determine meaning—that’s not a good idea.
To ensure your message is communicated clearly, be sure you’re using the correct dash.
