As a book typesetter, I often see mistakes that are made over and over again.
In this blog, I’m going to share how and where to use hyphens, en dashes and em dashes, plus where these misunderstood punctuation marks are often misused.
Hyphen
Let’s begin with the first and most often misused punctuation mark: the hyphen.
Hyphen: The shortest of these lines, they’re used to connect words or to divide a word at the end of a line of text (if it won’t completely fit).
Origin: ‘A hyphen is traced to a punctuation mark created by Dionysius Thrax, a Classical Greek grammarian’,1 and it has a really interesting (if not complicated) backstory. (See the referenced source for the full history of the hyphen.)
Examples: first-class, second-rate, time-sensitive
Common misuses:
In-between times, dates or other number ranges, which should be an en dash (see below).
To separate clauses in sentences, which again should be an en dash (or can be an em dash depending on where you live!) (see below).
En dash
Now, let’s talk about the hyphen’s slightly larger cousin, the en dash.
En dash: This is the next longest line and is the width of a capital N. It’s used when giving ranges of times, dates and other numbers, and to separate clauses in a sentence (instead of a comma). It can also be used to connect words in a compound adjective where those words are showing partnerships, connecting elements that are related by time or space, or for clarity when one of the items is the formal name of something made up of two or more words.
Origin: The origins of this mark are unclear. GrammarBook.com says it was brought in by publishers who wanted a slightly longer mark than a hyphen2 (date unknown), whilst the Oxford English Dictionary (under “en, n.,”) identifies the original 1893 edition of Hart’s Rules, Oxford University Press’s in-house style guide, as having the earliest mention.3
Examples:
In-between times and dates, with no space either side (2.00pm–3.00pm, 1940–1950, 1–10).
To separate clauses in sentences – a bit like a comma does – with spaces around them (Sarah often liked to eat oranges – the really sweet ones – because they tasted so good.)
To connect words in compound adjectives (Bosun–Higgs particle, Dover–Calais crossing, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist)
Common misuses:
Placing spaces around them when giving ranges of times, dates or numbers.
Using them to indicate interrupted speech, which should be an em dash (see below).
Not placing spaces around them when using them to separate clauses in a sentence (perhaps being confused with how em dashes are used, which are more common in US English).
Using them in a span or range that’s introduced by a word such as from or between.
Em dash
Now let’s look at its bigger brother: the em dash.
Em dash: This is the longest of these lines, and it’s called this because it’s the width of a capital M. It can be used to separate parenthetical clauses in a sentence or signal an abrupt change at the end of a sentence. Its use is much more prevalent in North America (UK English favours the en dash) or to indicate speech or a thought that’s interrupted.
Origin: The roots of the em dash can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was used to mark a pause in a sentence instead of a colon or a comma. This versatile punctuation mark was eventually embraced by other languages and writing systems, including Latin and early European manuscripts. In modern typography, the em dash is believed to have originated in the 15th century as a replacement for other forms of punctuation, such as commas, colons or parentheses.4
Examples:
To separate a phrase or clause from the rest of a sentence (The dog—I rarely pet dogs—was very cute.).
To signal an abrupt change at the end of a sentence (I ran into the one person I was avoiding—Carol.).
In speech / a thought, to indicate an interruption, like this:
“Lindsay, you know wha—”
“Oh, do be quiet; you’re hurting my head!”
Common misuses:
To separate a phrase or clause from the rest of the sentence or signal an abrupt change at the end of a sentence when you are not following a style that prefers this (e.g. US or Canadian English).
A lot of first-time writers don’t understand the difference between en dashes and em dashes – and so they get misused a lot. Books published in the UK don’t tend to use the em dash instead of brackets, so which dash to use depends on which style guide you’re using (UK vs US English, for example).
Using the right dash style in your writing is important, especially if it’s a piece for publication. Understanding the correct use depending on your readership is also key, as audiences will be familiar with particular styles, and using US punctuation (as well as spelling) can be off-putting if your demographic is UK-based.
There are lots of articles about correct hyphen, en dash and em dash use, such as this one, which explains the correct formatting of speech, including how dashes are used within it.
If you need any help with editing or formatting your manuscript, get in touch. I help lots of writers become authors by providing editorial and layout services to get their books published and printed. Simply email me at alexa@thebookrefinery.com with your project details.
References
- Zeidan, A. (n.d.). Hyphen. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/hyphen
- GrammarBook.com (n.d.). En Dash: What is an en dash? Retrieved from: https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/adjectives-adverbs/the-elusive-en-dash/
- Harper, R. (2020). En Dashes, the Editor’s Mark. Retrieved from: https://cmosshoptalk.com/2020/06/09/en-dashes-the-editors-mark/
- Chauhan, M. (n.d.). What Is an ‘Em Dash’? Retrieved from: https://blueroseone.com/publish/what-is-em-dash/
Alexa Whitten is…
Authormaker at The Writers’ Refinery
Cohost of The Pen to Published Podcast
Get in touch Contact Alexa
Leave a Reply