em dash

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence 'em dash' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to add emphasis to a point or to replace commas, parentheses, or colons to indicate an interruption in a sentence. For example: "I am determined to reach my goals—no matter what it takes"—emphasizes the speaker's commitment to their goal.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

And the glory of that em dash.

The New Yorker

Watch: Mary Norris explains the difference between a hyphen, an en dash, and an em dash.

The New Yorker

Comma Queen Mary Norris clarifies the difference between the hyphen, the en dash, and the em dash.

The New Yorker

Mad Dash Comma Queen Mary Norris clarifies the difference between the hyphen, the en dash, and the em dash.

The New Yorker

Watch: Comma Queen Mary Norris clarifies the difference between the hyphen, the en dash, and the em dash.

The New Yorker

The em dash is the mad one, versatile enough to act as comma, semicolon, colon, or hybrid of all three, as well as to indicate an interruption.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

The biggest are "em" dashes and are used to set off explanatory phrases like, "My friends -- that is, my former friends -- ganged up on me".

The New York Times - Arts

All single quote forms (single curly quotes, single guillemets) are normalized to '; all double quote forms (double curly quotes, double guillemets) are normalized to ". Em dashes and en dashes are both normalized to --.

Stanford University

Open image in new window Fig. 3 a Efficiency comparison between LDSTM (solid lines) and EM (dashed lines) in recovering source temporal information.

Brain Informatics

Em dashes signify a break in sentence flow.

Los Angeles Times

Book editing uses no spaces around its em dashes, but news editing usually opts for a space on either side.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the "em dash" sparingly to avoid disrupting the flow of your writing. It's most effective when used for dramatic pauses or to set off parenthetical information that deserves emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using a hyphen (-) or an en dash (–) in place of an "em dash" (—). The "em dash" is longer and serves a distinct purpose in separating phrases or adding emphasis. Hyphens connect words, while en dashes indicate ranges.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "em dash" primarily functions as a noun, specifically referring to a type of punctuation mark. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. It names the symbol itself and is used when discussing or referring to this specific punctuation mark.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "em dash" correctly identifies a punctuation mark used to create emphasis, indicate a break in thought, or set off parenthetical information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, while Ludwig examples demonstrate its prevalence across various sources, especially News & Media and Academia. Although it is common, it's important to distinguish the "em dash" from hyphens and en dashes, using it judiciously to enhance rather than disrupt the flow of writing. As the examples show, mastering the "em dash" can add nuance and sophistication to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

long dash

Refers to the same punctuation mark, emphasizing its length.

dash punctuation

Broader term encompassing various uses of dashes in punctuation.

sentence interrupter

Highlights the function of an em dash to interrupt the flow of a sentence.

punctuation mark for emphasis

Focuses on the em dash's role in adding emphasis.

parenthetical dash

Describes the em dash when used similarly to parentheses.

long hyphen

A less formal way to describe an em dash, highlighting its visual appearance.

break in thought indicator

Emphasizes the function of the em dash to signal a change in thought.

extended dash

Stresses the length of the dash compared to other punctuation.

grammatical dash

A formal term for a dash used in accordance with grammar rules.

punctuation for digression

Highlights the use of the em dash to introduce a digression.

FAQs

How do I create an "em dash" on my computer?

On Windows, hold down ALT and type 0151 on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, press Option + Shift + Hyphen. Some word processors automatically convert two hyphens (--) into an "em dash".

When should I use an "em dash" instead of parentheses?

Use an "em dash" to set off information that you want to emphasize more than if it were enclosed in parentheses. Parentheses de-emphasize, while the "em dash" highlights.

Is it correct to put spaces around an "em dash"?

Style guides vary. Some, like the Chicago Manual of Style, recommend no spaces around the "em dash". Others, like AP style, prefer spaces. Choose a style and be consistent.

What's the difference between an "en dash" and an "em dash"?

An "en dash" (–) is shorter than an "em dash" (—) and is primarily used to indicate ranges (e.g., pages 10–20). An "em dash" is used to set off phrases or indicate a break in thought.