A Dash of This and a Dash of That


© Barb Alexander
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Mar 2, 2001


Hyphens and dashes cannot be interchangably. No, they are not just little horizontal lines that mean the same thing!

Hyphen
Links elements in compound words; also separated letters for "spelling out" of words
  • Example #1: cost-effective, cutting-edge, four-star, well-known, step-by-step
  • Example #2: Grammar, related to the English language, is spelled g-r-a-m-m-a-r. The actor who plays "Frasier," however, is Kelsey G-r-a-m-m-e-r.

Dash
Sets off information that interrupts the main sentence

  • This information could be set off alternatively with commas or parentheses
  • Example #1: Sometimes - make that most times - she confuses the correct spelling of "grammar."
  • Example #2: "Frasier" -- a hilarious show starring Kelsey Grammer -- now airs on Tuesday nights, instead of on Thursday nights.

One long "em-dash" looks much more professional than two hyphens together, trying to make a dash. To make an em-dash on your computer, hold down the ALT key and type 06551. Then, release the ALT key to see the nice, neat em-dash! Voila!

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
1.   Mar 2, 2001 3:26 AM
The ALT key procedure only works on the numeric keys that are activated by the Num Lock key. The numbers at the top of my keyboard don't have the same effect. ...

-- posted by Philneast



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