Regarding the Em Dash

#1

Post by samclemens » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 2:41 AM UTC

Re: Regarding the Em Dash

#2

Post by kevmo314 » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 3:07 AM UTC

> Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons—in each case to slightly different effect.” The “slightly different” part is, to me, the em dash’s appeal summarized.

For me, it's of the opposite. It's like using `auto` too universally in C++: sometimes it's helpful to know the type you actually intend. Although I cede that the overuse in the article is more likely because it's discussing it and making a whimsical point. :)

Re: Regarding the Em Dash

#3

Post by jasoncrawford » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 3:07 AM UTC

Tip: On a Mac, you can type an em-dash with shift-option-hyphen. (An en-dash is just option-hyphen.)

Re: Regarding the Em Dash

#4

Post by pbhjpbhj » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 3:10 AM UTC

kevmo314 wrote: post #2

> Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons—in each case to slightly different effect.” The “slightly different” part is, to me, the em dash’s appeal summarized. For me, it's of the opposite. It's like using `auto` too universally in C++: sometimes it's helpful to know the type you actually intend. Although I cede that the overuse in the article is more likely because…

Commas also can take the place of parentheses and, sometimes, colons. Punctuation is like sentence structure in general, adaptable.

Re: Regarding the Em Dash

#5

Post by jacobwyke » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 3:16 AM UTC

jasoncrawford wrote: post #3

Tip: On a Mac, you can type an em-dash with shift-option-hyphen. (An en-dash is just option-hyphen.)

On Windows with the numpad: Alt + 0151 (en-dash is Alt + 0150)

Re: Regarding the Em Dash

#6

Post by psergeant » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 3:20 AM UTC

jasoncrawford wrote: post #3

Tip: On a Mac, you can type an em-dash with shift-option-hyphen. (An en-dash is just option-hyphen.)

iOS, type two hyphens and it gets auto-created

Re: Regarding the Em Dash

#7

Post by weeksie » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 3:25 AM UTC

I used to be an em dash over-user but have calmed down quite a bit in that department over the last several years. My current idée fixe is the archaic ellipsis as (over) used by Céline . . . I just can't bring myself to go with the single character scrunchy version.

Re: Regarding the Em Dash

#8

Post by freshyill » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 3:27 AM UTC

psergeant wrote: post #6

jasoncrawford wrote: post #3

Tip: On a Mac, you can type an em-dash with shift-option-hyphen. (An en-dash is just option-hyphen.)

iOS, type two hyphens and it gets auto-created

Or hold on the hyphen and you can get an emdash, endash, or bullet.

Re: Regarding the Em Dash

#9

Post by macintux » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 3:29 AM UTC

jasoncrawford wrote: post #3

Tip: On a Mac, you can type an em-dash with shift-option-hyphen. (An en-dash is just option-hyphen.)

Thanks. I think I've been using en-dash out of ignorance over the years.

Re: Regarding the Em Dash

#10

Post by pavel_lishin » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 3:30 AM UTC

Maybe I'm weirdly old fashioned, but I try to stick to ascii whenever possible - which means whatever character is stuck in the middle of this sentence. Ditto for the ellipsis, since it's not like three trailing periods at the end of a sentence can be mistaken for anything else...