19 Dashes
19
Dashes
Use a dash (—) to separate parts of a sentence. A dash suggests a stronger separation than a comma, colon, or semicolon does. To type a dash, hit the hyphen key twice (- -), with no spaces before, between, or after the hyphens. Some word-processing programs automatically convert the two hyphens to a dash (—).
19a Use a dash or dashes to emphasize a sudden shift or break in thought or mood
19b Use a dash or dashes to introduce an explanation, an example, or items in a series
When the added thought appears in the middle of a sentence, use two dashes to set it off.
19c Use dashes sparingly
Dashes are emphatic. Do not overuse them, or they will lose their effectiveness. Also be careful not to use a dash as a substitute for a conjunction or transition.
