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Twistedthistle Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

em dash and "that is"

hi everyone,

In your opinions, does an em dash make the phrase "that is" redundant? I've always thought of an em dash (when used in certain contexts) as meaning "that is", for example:

I told the secret to my best friend--my mother.

In this sentence, to my mind at least, "that is" is implied: (I told the secret to my best friend--_that is_, my mother.)

I know that "that is" can often follow an em dash, and i hold no quarrel with those who use it. But, in your opinions, is the "that is" strictly necessary?

Thanks all
TT
  

Top answer

twistedthistle In your opinions, does an em dash make the phrase "that is" redundant? Well, it makes 'that is' very weak, at least. I agree that in your sample sentence, it is much better without that phrase: I told the secret to my best friend—my mother.

— Mister Micawber

  • twistedthistle In your opinions, does an em dash make the phrase "that is" redundant?
  • Well, it makes 'that is' very weak, at least.
  • I agree that in your sample sentence, it is much better without that phrase: I told the secret to my best friend—my mother.
  • Incidentally, you can type a proper m-dash with this: Alt+0151
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1 Answers
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twistedthistleIn your opinions, does an em dash make the phrase "that is" redundant?
Well, it makes 'that is' very weak, at least. I agree that in your sample sentence, it is much better without that phrase:

I told the secret to my best friend—my mother.

Incidentally, you can type a proper m-dash with this: Alt+0151
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