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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Linguistics Studies

Dashes or bracketing commas

Hello, I could really do with some help with this one; I am writing my university personal statement for and English language degree. Should I use dashes instead of bracketing commas - when the interruption does not significantly interrupt the flow of the sentence - because the sentence also has a listing comma in it?

e.g. I also have a desire to study the classics - such as Shakespeare, Chaucer, Fitzgerald and Hemingway - because I believe knowledge of the English language and literature is a generally attractive and advantageous quality both professionally and socially.

or I also have a desire to study the classics, such as Shakespeare, Chaucer, Fitzgerald and Hemingway, because I believe knowledge of the English language and literature is a generally attractive and advantageous quality both professionally and socially.

Any suggestion would be helpful as I would, obviously, like to get my statement linguistically perfect. Thanks in advance.

O Downing
  

Top answer

You have a bit of a problem because whichever you choose may not meet with the approval of whoever reads your statement! Dashes seem to be used more now than they were; I know I use them more than I used to On balance I would say the second looks fine, while the first looks a fraction awkward, but only a fraction. Why not avoid the problem and make two sentences, or, even better, use a semi-colon: I also have a desire to study the classics, such as Shakespeare, Chaucer, Fitzgerald and Hemingway; I believe knowledge of the English language and literature is a generally attractive and advantageous quality both professionally and socially Hint: try to avoid the word "desire" as it has amorous overtones.

— Forbes

  • You have a bit of a problem because whichever you choose may not meet with the approval of whoever reads your statement!
  • Dashes seem to be used more now than they were; I know I use them more than I used to On balance I would say the second looks fine, while the first looks a fraction awkward, but only a fraction.
  • Why not avoid the problem and make two sentences, or, even better, use a semi-colon: I also have a desire to study the classics, such as Shakespeare, Chaucer, Fitzgerald and Hemingway; I believe knowledge of the English language and literature is a generally attractive and advantageous quality both professionally and socially Hint: try to avoid the word "desire" as it has amorous overtones.
  • How about: I would also like to or I also wish to.
  • Further, is "knowledge" "attractive" and is it a "quality"?
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2 Answers
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You have a bit of a problem because whichever you choose may not meet with the approval of whoever reads your statement! Dashes seem to be used more now than they were; I know I use them more than I used to

On balance I would say the second looks fine, while the first looks a fraction awkward, but only a fraction.

Why not avoid the problem and make two sentences, or, even better
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Thanks mate the help is very much appreciated. The reason why I tried not to use a semi-colon was because I thought that I had maybe overused them before this sentence, but I agree a semi-colon is what it needs. Thanks tips on Lexis as well.

O Downing
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