This is the final post of this series. You should be well educated on using all kinds of punctuation properly by the end of it. Woo hoo!!!
We’ll finish up with the various types of dashes, parentheses, brackets, ellipsis and the slash. Ready? Here we go.
What the heck’s an em dash?
I honestly didn’t know until a few years ago what an em dash was or how to use it. I had never paid any attention to it. And how about an en dash? What’s the difference? Let’s clear this up now.
Dashes are not hyphens. A hyphen is used to create compound words (like cross-examine) or to add a prefix when clarity is needed (like re-creation). Don’t use a hyphen in place of a dash.
An em dash is the width of a capital M, while an en dash is half the width of the em dash. When using either the em or en dash, do not put a space between the dash and the words around it.
You can create an em or en dash in most word processing programs and website creation sites (including Microsoft Word and WordPress) by inserting a special character. If you can’t find a way to create them in the software you’re using, Google it. There’s lots of information out there.
Em dash
Em dashes are used for the following reasons:
- To set off elements in a sentence that need emphasis
- To set off a series of items that already contains commas
- To set up a restatement, amplification, or dramatic shift in thought
How about some examples.
Everything went wrong for Bob—from nearly running Nancy over when he picked her up to tripping over her feet when they danced.
All three dogs—Spot, Lucky, and Peewee—swam in the lake that afternoon.
I can—I must—finish this manuscript by my editor’s deadline.
En dash
Use an en dash to indicate a range, like typing dates or page numbers.
Nancy read pages 6–21 for her quiz.
They can also be used to clarify an adjectival open compound. We use the en dash in this case because it indicates to the reader that the prefix goes with the entire compound, not just the first word of the compound.
post–Civil War era (not post-Civil War era)
See the difference?
Parentheses
Parentheses are used for two basic purposes:
- To enclose supplemental material, minor digressions and afterthoughts
- To enclose letters or numbers used to label items in a series
After she wrote the articles (one for each client), she went to the beach to relax.
The directions to the beach were simple: (1) turn left on Main, (2) drive 3 miles to the dead end, (3) turn right, and (4) drive until you see water.
Brackets
Brackets are used within word-for-word quotations for words you insert that weren’t the original author’s words.
Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you [not everyone else] can do for your country.”
You would also use brackets to enclose the word “sic” to indicate an error in a quoted sentence that appears in the original source.
Ellipsis
The ellipsis is created by typing three spaced periods in a row.
. . .
It’s used to indicate when you’ve deleted material from a quotation that is otherwise word-for-word. It goes where the missing words would have been.
George Washington said, “If freedom of speech is taken away, then . . . silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
Don’t use the ellipsis at the beginning or end of a quote to indicate missing pieces. Just start or end the quote as you wish.
The slash
The slash is not used often. When you have a situation where two words are paired together, like and/or, separate them with a slash. Don’t put a space before or after the slash.
Rich was the owner/CEO of the company.
For the punctuation marks in this final post of the series, be careful not to overuse them. They can become distracting if they pop up too many times.
Punctuation is in the books
Do you feel better about some punctuation that may have mystified you before? I hope so.
If you’re joining the party late, check out previous installments of this series for all the rules and suggestions so you can punctuate like a pro.