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Snarf Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
"Unless" ... Em Dash
"No, sir, they seem to like it; unless, of course, one of these people, like that man up there, has made it impossible for them to enjoy it anymore."
Is that second part, after the semi-colon, a fragment because of the word "unless"? The thing is, there is a longer pause after "it" than a comma would offer. Should it rather be an em dash between "it" and "unless," then?
Thanks.
Is that second part, after the semi-colon, a fragment because of the word "unless"? The thing is, there is a longer pause after "it" than a comma would offer. Should it rather be an em dash between "it" and "unless," then?
Thanks.
Top answer
Snarf Is that second part, after the semi-colon, a fragment because of the word "unless"? Yes. Snarf Should it rather be an em dash between "it" and "unless," then?
- Snarf Is that second part, after the semi-colon, a fragment because of the word "unless"?
- Yes.
- Snarf Should it rather be an em dash between "it" and "unless," then?
- An em dash wouldn’t indicate a longer pause, so no.
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5 Answers
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SnarfIs that second part, after the semi-colon, a fragment because of the word "unless"?Yes.
SnarfShould it rather be an em dash between "it" and "unless," then?An em dash wouldn’t indicate a longer pause, so no.
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So the only way to indicate a longer pause would be to use ellipses instead?
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SnarfSo the only way to indicate a longer pause would be to use ellipses instead?Pretty much. I advise that you use ellipses for that purpose sparingly, though.
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In dialogue you need concern yourself only with how your character would talk and not at all with grammar. Nobody speaks in punctuation. A period works fine for a slight pause despite the fragment: "No, sir, they seem to like it. Unless, of course, one of these people, like that man up there, has made it impossible for them to enjoy it anymore." If you want a longer pause: "No, sir, they seem to l
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enoonA period works fine for a slight pause despite the fragment: "No, sir, they seem to like it. Unless, of course, one of these people, like that man up there, has made it impossible for them to enjoy it anymore."
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