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Chris Bryant Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Does the word "em dash" have a hyphen between it?

I google that question and all I get is people schooling me on the difference between an em dash and a hyphen—I already know that difference. What's interesting, though, is that half of those people put a hyphen between "em dash" (i.e., em-dash) and half of them don't. So aren't half of these so-called grammar experts then wrong? This isn't a joke. I actually want to know because I'm using the word in a sentence. Please help. Thanks!
  

Top answer

Chris Bryant So aren't half of these so-called grammar experts then wrong? Be careful who you call an 'expert' around here. " Many of us here at the Forums have already lived through the days when there was a strict, solitary, authoritative 'rule' about everything.

— Philip

  • Chris Bryant So aren't half of these so-called grammar experts then wrong?
  • Be careful who you call an 'expert' around here.
  • " Many of us here at the Forums have already lived through the days when there was a strict, solitary, authoritative 'rule' about everything.
  • Language is man-made, and therefore imperfect.
  • It's much easier to deal with it if we look at so-called rules as de scriptive rather than pre scriptive.
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7 Answers
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Chris BryantSo aren't half of these so-called grammar experts then wrong?
Be careful who you call an 'expert' around here. "Them's fightin' words!"
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Both are widely used. Just pick one and be consistent.
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Can I make a distinction between an em-dash and an en-dash on the computer?
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/dashes.asp
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However you spell the word, some people think that such dashes can lead to lazy and poorly structured writing.
So, beware!
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Interesting. People feel that way? Well, I think if you use them correctly and, yes, a little sparingly you can actually be viewed as more skilled. What do you think?
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I admit I was speaking hyperbolically -- just for fun! But I do avoid dashes -- and never feel the lack.

Perhaps you may find this discussion interesting. It's fairly even-handed.
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I think the use of dashes is often a cop-out. I use them in my personal writing. If I write for publication, I think about the most appropriate punctuation; it's rarely, if ever, an em dash.
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