One of the first things I check when receiving a manuscript is my client’s use of dashes. Here are the three I look at.
1. Hyphens. The simplest dash, usually used in compound words such as “self-sustaining.” If my client wants me to follow CMOS guidelines (most do), I consult those tables at the end of chapter 7 and make sure they’ve been implemented consistently.
2. Em dashes. These are a bit more complicated, but what I love about em dashes is their versatility. They can be used in lieu of colons, semicolons, commas, or parentheses, depending on the context. I edit a lot of fiction, and it’s very common for em dashes to be used as interrupters in dialogue. Here’s an example:
“Well, I thought I might—”
“Might what?” her mother demanded.
“—go to the mall.”
If you’re using Windows, you can type an em dash by holding down the Alt key, typing 0151, then releasing the Alt key. Also note that if you’re following CMOS, em dashes are closed up on either side (no spaces surround them).
3. En dashes. These are usually the rarest dash, but it’s still vital to get these right. En dashes can be used to link numbers like ranges and scores. Example:
The Chicago Bears won 24–3.
En dashes can also be used when a compound modifier contains an open compound or a proper noun. Examples:
For a number of years, Final Fantasy games used random encounter–mechanics.
The early Final Fantasy games featured Nobuo Uematsu–composed music.
If you’re using Windows, you can type an en dash by holding down the Alt key, typing 0150, then releasing the Alt key.
(I’ve chosen a picture of Sonic the Hedgehog to accompany this post because he is always *dashing* around.)
Happy writing, everybody!
Timothy
