English Language Arts
Grade 9
15 min
Use dashes
Use dashes
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Differentiate between a hyphen, an en dash, and an em dash based on their appearance and function.
Use em dashes to set off nonessential appositives or parenthetical information for emphasis.
Employ em dashes to signal an abrupt change in thought or a dramatic interruption in a sentence.
Use em dashes to introduce a list or explanation in a more emphatic way than a colon.
Analyze the rhetorical effect of dashes in literary and non-fiction texts.
Evaluate when a dash is more stylistically appropriate than a comma, colon, or parentheses in their own writing.
Ever wanted to add a dramatic pause or a sudden interruption to your writing? ✍️ There's a punctuation mark designed specifically for that!
This tutorial will teach you how to use dashes—specifica...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Em Dash (—)A punctuation mark, approximately the width of the letter 'M', used to create a strong break in a sentence for emphasis, interruption, or to set off an explanation.The final answer—the one we had all been waiting for—was announced at midnight.
En Dash (–)A punctuation mark, wider than a hyphen but narrower than an em dash, primarily used to indicate a range between two numbers, dates, or times.The assignment is to read pages 45–62 for homework.
Hyphen (-)The shortest of the three marks, used to join words together to form a compound word (like 'well-being') or to divide a word at the end of a line.She is a well-respected author.
Parenthetical InformationA word, phrase, or clause inserted as an explanation or afterthought into a sentence...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Emphasis Rule
Use a pair of em dashes to set off and emphasize nonessential information or an appositive phrase.
This is a powerful alternative to commas or parentheses. Dashes create the strongest emphasis, parentheses create the least, and commas are neutral. Use dashes when you want the reader to pay special attention to the enclosed information.
The Interruption Rule
Use a single em dash to mark an abrupt break in thought, an interruption, or a sudden turn in a sentence.
This technique is often used in dialogue or narrative to show a character being cut off or a speaker suddenly changing their mind. It creates a dramatic, sometimes jarring, effect that mimics real speech.
The Amplification Rule
Use a single em dash to introduce a list, a restatement, an explana...
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Challenging
Read this excerpt from a novel: 'He ran. He didn't know where, only that he had to get away from the house, from the memory, from the face that haunted his dreams—his own.' What is the author's most likely purpose for using the em dash here?
A.To create a moment of sudden, dramatic revelation for the reader.
B.To indicate that the character is listing things in a formal way.
C.To connect the compound adjective 'face that haunted'.
D.To show that the character is taking a brief pause to catch his breath.
Challenging
Of the following sentences, which one uses an em dash to create the most significant and powerful rhetorical effect?
A.The movie—a blockbuster hit—was enjoyed by millions.
B.Please get the groceries—milk, eggs, and bread—on your way home.
C.She had given him everything—her trust, her loyalty, her heart—and he had thrown it all away.
D.The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 PM—don't be late.
Challenging
An author writes the following passage: 'The city was a maze of contradictions. Gleaming towers stood beside crumbling tenements. The wealthy dined in luxury—while just outside, children went hungry. It was a place of dreams and a place of nightmares—all at once.' Which statement best analyzes the author's stylistic use of dashes?
A.The author uses dashes incorrectly, as colons should have been used to introduce the lists.
B.The author uses dashes to create sharp, jarring contrasts and to deliver concluding thoughts with dramatic finality.
C.The author overuses dashes, making the paragraph difficult to read and understand.
D.The author uses dashes primarily to set off nonessential appositives for simple clarification.
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