![]() Three em dashes appear in place of the author before the second work and all subsequent works. Our publications require em dashes in the works-cited list when there are two or more works by a single author. But MLA publications use dashes to enhance readability. In student writing, there is no need to use em and en dashes in the works-cited list. Our related post on hyphens and en dashes explains how we use them. For example, the phrase “the Academy Award–winning actress” needs an en dash, not a hyphen. MLA style uses en dashes-so called because they are the length of the letter n-in prose after single compound adjectives that are also proper nouns. Em dashes-like the ones used in this sentence-separate one portion of the sentence from another. They’re called that because they’re the width of the letter m. When you use dashes in your prose, they’re typically em dashes. In what follows I provide examples of how the MLA uses dashes and how to access them in Microsoft Word. For that reason, it is a good idea to use keyboard shortcuts to insert them in your text. But dashes do not appear on standard keyboards. They also appear in works-cited lists in MLA publications. Whereas hyphens primarily divide compound words (“a long-standing concern”), dashes divide other kinds of compound structures or indicate breaks in a sentence. ĭashes come in two varieties: em dashes and en dashes. This post explains how to use dashes in MLA style and Microsoft Word. It’s a technique that’s often used when authors transcribe verbal communications.The series Microsoft Word and MLA Style shows writers how to use Word to make their essays conform to MLA style guidelines. To Signal an InterruptionĮm dashes can signal an interruption, particularly in dialogue and other forms of written speech. Let’s take a closer look at each way you can effectively use this versatile punctuation mark in your sentences: 1. Finally, you can use em dashes as an alternative to parenthesis. On the other hand, they can substitute missing information or missing parts of a word. What’s more, an em dash can also signal a sentence break when you want to clarify something or give extra focus to a list of items. Use the em dash to indicate an interruption or an abrupt change in thought. It has multiple uses, making it a especially useful in informal writing or fiction. ![]() What is an Em Dash Used for?Īn em dash is the longest of the dashes. Between hyphen and en dash, there’s em dash, one of the most versatile punctuation marks that you can use. This versatile symbol helps adding structure, clarity, and even personality to otherwise complex sentences. When a comma or colon isn’t enough, or you want to avoid using parentheses, the em dash may be the punctuation mark for you. An em dash can replace commas, parentheses, and colons.Typically, you shouldn’t include a space before or after the em dash.Long dashes help add clarity, signal a break, or indicate an interruption in a sentence.They often help emphasize specific information. When you think of an em dash, think of emphasis.An em dash is about the width of the letter ‘M’, which is where it gets its name.Type em dashes by pressing Alt+0151 for Windows or Shift+Option+Minus (-) for Mac.They are much wider than en dashes and are also called long dashes.
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