Can an em dash replace a semicolon?
Can an em dash replace a semicolon?
(3) A Dash in Place of a Semicolon. A dash (generally, an “em dash”) can replace a semicolon used to merge two independent clauses.
What punctuation can replace a dash?
colons
What is an em dash used for?
Em dashes are often used to set off parenthetical information. Using em dashes instead of parentheses puts the focus on the information between the em dashes.
What is the difference between an em dash and an en dash?
There are two types of dash. The en dash is approximately the length of the letter n, and the em dash the length of the letter m. The shorter en dash (–) is used to mark ranges. The longer em dash (—) is used to separate extra information or mark a break in a sentence.
How do you type an en dash in Google Docs?
- To insert an em dash, an en dash, or any special character in Google Docs in the Chrome desktop browser, choose Insert | Special Characters and search for the item to insert.
- In Google Docs on Android or iOS, long-hold on the hyphen key on your keyboard for access to an en dash, em dash, and bullet character.
How do you use two dashes in a sentence?
Two dashes can emphasize a modifier. Words or phrases that describe a noun can be set off with dashes if you wish to emphasize them. Example: The fairgrounds—cold and wet in the October rain—were deserted. Example: Nettie—her chin held high—walked out into the storm.
How do you use double dash in a sentence?
Double dashes are used instead of commas (or parentheses) to interrupt a sentence. The phrase separated by dashes must be grammatically inessential, by which I simply mean that the sentence will still work without that phrase.
How do you write a long dash in writing?
The em dash can be used in place of a colon when you want to emphasize the conclusion of your sentence. The dash is less formal than the colon. After months of deliberation, the jurors reached a unanimous verdict—guilty. The white sand, the warm water, the sparkling sun—this is what brought them to Fiji.
What is Dash example?
A dash can be used between times and dates. (A dash will usually replace the words from…to or between…and.) For example: USSR existed 1922–1991….(1) Using Dashes with Ranges (e.g., Times and Dates)
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 0800–0830 | Introduction |
| 0830–0930 | Lesson 1 |
| 0930–1230 | Lessons 2–3 |
Why do writers use dashes?
Along with its use in place of brackets and colons, a dash can be used when writing dialogue, for example to show that someone speaking has been interrupted. Dashes can also be used to show repetition of a word or phrase for effect, and to separate repetitive phrases.
What is an em dash sentence?
The em dash is an incredibly versatile punctuation mark that can be used instead of parentheses, commas, colons, or quotation marks in a sentence. The em dash has a fan club of sorts, as writers love to debate its many uses (and possible overuses).
What is the proper use of a dash in writing?
A dash is a horizontal line that shows a pause or break in meaning, or that represents missing words or letters. Note that dashes are rather informal and should be used carefully in writing. Dashes are often used informally instead of commas, colons and brackets.
How can dashes be used in writing to develop characters?
As we have just seen, probably the most common use of the dash is to embed explanatory details within the main sentence. A single dash can set off the information at the end of the sentence—just like this.
How do you show pauses in writing?
a: Use punctuation (comma, ellipsis, dash) to indicate a pause or break. may be in the middle of a sentence or at the end of it. You can use commas, dashes, or ellipses to cue different types of pauses.
How do you use a dash in academic writing?
How to use hyphens in academic writing
- Hyphens are punctuation marks used to link multiple words.
- Use a hyphen to join words together to avoid ambiguity.
- Use a hyphen when two or more words act as a single adjective before a noun.
- Hyphenate spelled-out numbers between 21 and 99 (twenty-one, ninety-nine).
- Hyphenate phrasal verbs (Why did he hold up traffic?)
How do you use an em dash in dialogue?
Mini Lesson: Punctuating Interrupted Dialogue
- Use a speech verb with a modifier.
- Use an em dash inside the quotation marks to cut off the character mid-dialogue, usually with either (A) another character speaking or (B) an external action.
- Use em dashes outside the quotation marks to set off a bit of action without a speech verb.
How do you write dialogue correctly?
How to Format Dialogue in a Story
- Use Quotation Marks to Indicate Spoken Word.
- Dialogue Tags Stay Outside the Quotation Marks.
- Use a Separate Sentence for Actions That Happen Before or After the Dialogue.
- Use Single Quotes When Quoting Something Within the Dialogue.
- Use a New Paragraph to Indicate a New Speaker.
How do you punctuate dialogue in a story?
8 Essential Rules for Punctuating Dialogue – article
- Use a comma to introduce text.
- Use a comma when a dialogue tag follows a quote.
- Periods and commas fall within closing quotations.
- Question marks, exclamation points, and dashes fall inside or outside closing quotations.
- Use single quotes when using quotes within dialogue.
Do you capitalize dialogue in the middle of a sentence?
Inserted into the middle of a sentence. A dialogue tag can be inserted into the middle of a sentence. When this happens, the dialogue tag is set off with commas, and the sentence is capitalized as if the dialogue tag weren’t there.
How do you punctuate dialogue in the middle of a sentence?
If the dialogue tag is inserted in the middle of a sentence, use a comma before the first closing quotation mark and after the dialogue tag. Lowercase the dialogue tag.
How do you punctuate a question within a sentence?
Punctuation Junction: Question Marks and Quotation Marks
- When the quotation itself is a question, put the question mark inside the quotation marks.
- When the sentence as a whole is a question, but the quoted material is not, put the question mark outside the quotation marks.
A dash (generally, an “em dash”) can replace a semicolon used to merge two independent clauses.
What can dashes replace sometimes?
Dashes Are Usually an Option, Not a Necessity It is usually used as an alternative to another punctuation mark. When used to extend a sentence, a dash can replace a semicolon (;), a colon (:), or three dots (…) used as a pause for effect. When used as parentheses, dashes are alternatives to brackets or commas.
Can dashes replace parentheses?
A pair of em dashes can replace a pair of parentheses. Dashes are considered less formal than parentheses; they are also more intrusive. If you want to draw attention to the parenthetical content, use dashes. If you want to include the parenthetical content more subtly, use parentheses.
When should you use an em dash?
1 Answer. An em-dash is typically used as a stand-in for a comma or parenthesis to separate out phrases—or even just a word—in a sentence for various reasons (e.g. a parenthetical; an ersatz-ellipsis). Examples where an em-dash should be used: School is based on the three R’s—reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.
What is a 3 em dash?
Creating a 3-em Dash Create a 3-em dash by entering the em dash three times or six hyphens. You can find the em dash in the symbol drop-down menu in Microsoft Word. Alternatively, press CTRL + ALT + minus key on the numeric keypad, three times.
What is the difference between a hyphen and a dash on a keyboard?
A hyphen joins two or more words together while a dash separates words into parenthetical statements. The two are sometimes confused because they look so similar, but their usage is different. Hyphens are not separated by spaces, while a dash has a space on either side.
Which is the most standard keyboard?
QWERTY
Why is Qwerty not ABCD?
The first machine had the letter keys in alphabetical order. The trouble was that if you hit two keys quickly the levers would jam. Jams were most likely when the two keys were close together on the keyboard. Rearranging the letters could reduce jams.
Is qwerty a real word?
QWERTY (pronounced “quirty”) is an adjective used to describe standard Western (or Latin-based) keyboards. If you look at your keyboard, and the first six letters under the numbers are Q-W-E-R-T-Y, then you have a QWERTY keyboard. Nearly all keyboards used in the western hemisphere have a QWERTY layout.
What are the 3 types of keyboards?
What are the different options or sizes for a keyboard?
- Standard Keyboard. The standard keyboard features keys that are roughly three-quarters inch on center, with a travel of at least 0.150 inches.
- Laptop-Size Keyboard. Another common type of keyboard is the laptop-size keyboard.
- Flexible Keyboards.
- Handheld Keyboard.
What are the 2 types of keyboards?
There are two major types of computer keyboards: Basic and Extended. The Basic keyboard contains 104 keys and is enough to perform all the functions that can be done on a Windows PC. The Extended keyboard may have additional keys, and the design varies among the companies manufacturing them.
What is the oldest type of keyboard?
On July 1, 1874, the Remington typewriter hit the market, with the earliest version of what would become the keyboard layout we still use today. The original 1873 Sholes and Glidden typewriter.
What is a scissors keyboard?
With a scissor switch keyboard, the keys are attached to the keyboard using two plastic pieces that interlock together in an X shape like a pair of scissors, hence the name. The two pieces snap to the keyboard and the key, and when you press down, the two pieces close together like scissors.
What is wrong with the butterfly keyboard?
The issue is that the butterfly type keys have a space on the side where crumbs can slide into and jam the keys. The real solution is to not eat on top of any keyboard. Q: What’s wrong with Apple’s butterfly keyboard? A: It’s been verified that it really was crumbs from users who eat on their computers.
Why is the butterfly keyboard so bad?
Why Apple’s Butterfly Keyboards Are Terrible There are several attributes that make Apple’s butterfly-style keyboards unpleasant to use. Poor dust management: on many keyboards, including Apple’s butterfly keyboards, the keys work like a pump, actively sucking air and any nearby dust into the key mechanism.
Does anyone like the butterfly keyboard?
I really liked the typing experience on the butterfly keyboard and didn’t have any sticky keys, but the new keyboard is fine and hopefully doesn’t have the reliability issues that plagued the butterfly. I think my accuracy was a little better on the butterfly.
What is a butterfly switch?
Scissor switches allow the keys to “travel” a few millimeters down every time they’re pressed. Butterfly switches result in a less repairable, more fragile keyboard that is unpleasant to type on, because it feels like you’re smashing your fingers against a hard plastic board with little give.
What is the difference between butterfly keyboard and scissor keyboard?
All five of the Laptop Mag staffers who compared the two keyboards agreed that the new scissor keys are more comfortable to type on than the butterfly keys. We each noted that the scissor keyboard provides more travel than the extremely shallow butterfly keyboard.
What is the difference between butterfly keyboard and magic keyboard?
The Magic Keyboard uses a new scissor mechanism that provides 1mm of key travel, unlike the company’s older keyboard. The butterfly keyboard feels stiff and shallow in comparison, not to mention it’s noticeably louder compared to the Magic Keyboard. It may not sound like a make-or-break change.
Is Apple Magic keyboard membrane?
Keyboards rely on switches that are triggered when you press a key down. The most common keyboards out there today are membrane or rubber dome keyboards. Even scissor-switches or butterfly keyboards, as Apple’s MacBook lineup are famous for, rely on rubber domes.