What the heck is an em dash, and why use it?
PenPal answers:
Em dashes may be used for the following grammatical constructions:
1. Amplifying or explaining
[Example: She outlined her strategy—a strategy that would, she hoped, keep the peace.]
2. Separating a subject from a pronoun that introduces the main clause
[Example: Broken promises and lies—such were the obstacles he encountered in their marriage.]
3. Indicating sudden breaks or pauses:
[Example: “Will you—can you—please help me just this once?” asked Jared.]
4. Used in place of or with a comma (often to avoid comma confusion):
[Example 1: Although I can’t call you on Sunday—I’ll explain why later—expect an e-mail, probably early in the morning.] [Example 2, where both em dash and comma are needed: “I promise you I will never—,” Sylvia began, but Raymond cut her short.]
5. With other punctuation (a question mark or exclamation point—but never a comma, semicolon, or colon, and rarely a period—may precede an em dash. [Example: Only if—heaven forbid!—you do your homework first.]
6. Index entries
Example:
—Abelson, John
—Abernathy, Susan
—Bennington, Frank
(etc.)
Note: The em dash is a handy and legitimate punctuation tool often saving a sentence from comma confusion. For more information on correct usage, see The Chicago Manual of Style and William Zinsser’s On Writing Well.
[Next time around, watch for my explanation of ellipsis usage!]
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Cathy Kodra a/k/a PenPal
About PenPal…
Cathy Kodra works as an independent editor in Knoxville, TN. Her poetry and short stories have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including Roanoke Review, New Millennium Writings, Common Ground Review, Now & Then, Cavalier Literary Couture, Slow Trains, Still Crazy, The Medulla Review, Prime Mincer, Yemassee, and others. She is a contributing editor for New Millennium Writings and past guest poetry editor for The Medulla Review. She was first runner up in Prime Mincer’s 2011 Poetry Contest, judged by Rodney Jones, and took first place in the 2012 Old Gray Cemetery Poetry Contest. Cathy’s first poetry chapbook, Thin Ice, was published in 2011 by Medulla Publishing.
Cathy is a member of the Knoxville Writers’ Guild and of two local writing groups. An avid reader and writer, she is currently working on two poetry collections and a collection of short stories. Her hobbies include gardening and vegan cooking, and she lives happily with her husband Ron, two dogs, and a cat. She can be reached at www.cathykodra.com.
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