Tiny Grammar Cheatsheet: Hyphens, En, and Em Dashes
Hyphens ( - ) are the shortest and are used to: ⣠link elements in a compound word: dog-owner ⣠separate some affixes from the rest of the word: pre-election ⣠(sometimes) take the place of the en dash indicating range: pages 24-66 ⣠indicate stuttering or abrupt interruption: M-m-micheal? ⣠spell out a word letter for letter: I said we are c-l-o-s-e-d.
En Dashes ( â ) are shorter than em dashes. They indicate a range and could usually be replaced with "from" and "to": â I lived in New York 2015â2020. ⤠I lived in New York from 2015 to 2020. But: â I lived in New York from 2015â2020.
Em Dashes ( â ) are longest. They are used: ⣠to call attention to the content they separate from the rest of the sentence and emphasize it ⣠in place of commas and parentheses: When he finally apologizedâafter four weeks of silenceâshe was no longer interested in hearing him out. ⣠in place of a colon, especially to summarize, explain, or expand upon the preceding clause in a dramatic manner: After months of deliberation, the jurors reached a unanimous verdictâguilty. ⣠to summarize or note the common link in a list: Sweet, sour, salty, bitterâall tastes the cook loved to experiment with. ⣠to set off or introduce defining phrases and lists: The shop's selection of three flavorsâstrawberry, mint, and chocolateâwas never enough variety. ⣠to indicate a new direction: I agree with you, but Jamesâhe felt otherwise. to indicate hesitation: Well, I thinkâYeah, I guess it is concerning.
Fun Fact: en dashes received their name because the dash is the length of the letter N, while the em dash is the length of the letter M.
