comma after em dash

That's because, as you said it correctly, it replaces a comma so you don't need to put it again. But as a general rule, punctuation doesn't run together at all--they're meant to be used separately. Now the reason for having the comma, after the abrupt interruptional phrase, is because the phrase " If you are looking for someone who is willing to take on the challeges to overcome obstacles " is an introductory phrase. Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language Learners Stack Exchange! Em dashes set apart parenthetical phrases or clauses in a sentence. Interruptions set off by commas and dashes are quite common in fiction. and an exclamation mark (!) In this case, the phrase " in order to provide top-notch client satisfaction " was separated with dashes within the sentence because it is an "abrupt interruption". The guide does not explicitly say that writers can use the dash in lieu of properly crafting sentences, or instead of a comma or a parenthetical or a colon—and yet in practical usage, we do. ?) TeXStudio: Autocomplete missing for some commands (acronym pkg), Implementing 3-Qubit Grover Algorithm in Qiskit. lana October 15, 2019 at 5:28 pm. As noted in the post on parentheses vs. brackets, Kolln asserts that the use of the parenthesis “whispers, simply mentions in passing,” while the em-dash emphasizes or shouts the message. next to each other. Many word processors will automatically insert an em dash when you type a pair of hyphens. Em dashes can replace commas as a means of adding emphasis to a clause located in the midst of the sentence. The juvenile defendant, â€”——, was arraigned yesterday. From the faded and water-damaged note, we made out only this: “Was ne⁠——⁠y going to m⁠—— K⁠——, but now ——⁠t.”. Notwithstanding its versatility, the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence. english.stackexchange.com/questions/131874/…, Stack Overflow for Teams is now free for up to 50 users, forever. A pair of em dashes can be used in place of commas to enhance readability. The solution I'm currently using is to replace the author's em dashes with parentheses, which allow me to use a comma as well: He hopped off his bicycle (which was neatly caught by a volunteer), took off his bike shorts, revealing his swim trunks, ran into the water and started swimming towards the first marker. The em dash is typically used without spaces on either side, and that is the style used in this guide. When located at the end of a sentence, only the first dash should be used. Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons⁠—in each case to slightly different effect. Is it normal for the US Space Force to warn companies about a possible collision (conjunction)? After a split second of hesitation, the second baseman leaped for the ball (or, rather, limped for it). The correct answer is B. I guess it is not, since the em dash takes the place of the comma. What kind of problems can a flight have if passenger weight is miscalculated? 1) In some styles, an en dash may be used where an em dash would normally go. Specialized uses of the en dash. ", How to make objects follow a ellipse? Em dashes draw attention to the information they enclose or set apart. When does a comma follow an exclamatory 'oh' or 'ah'? Swan's PEU describes this. Like parentheses, em-dashes can be used in place of commas, depending again on the rhetorical effect desired. 7.41 Enumerations. An em-dash may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought. The long dash is the widest of the three horizontal marks that may be used in the middle of a sentence. An em dash can replace commas, parentheses, and colons. Use Dashes in Place of a Comma A dash doesn’t require any extra thought regarding capitalization. A semi-colon in place of the first em dash would be okay if the second em dash was also dropped. For instance, em dashes can replace parentheses at the end of a sentence or when multiple commas appear in a parenthetical phrase. The em dash completely overtakes where the comma would be and makes the comma unnecessary. Most newspapers, however, set the em dash off with a single space on each side. The em dash can be used in place of a colon when you want to emphasize the conclusion of your sentence. So, if the part of the sentence immediately preceding (or following) the dash would have needed a comma (or any other punctuation) in the absence of the dash-enclosed phrase, it still needs a comma in the presence of the dash-enclosed phrase. Whichever length you choose, use it consistently throughout your document. bananna ,apple,mango—which all appear on the table or It looks like this:— It’s called an em dash because its width is about the same as a lower-case letter em (m). Parentheses. Check this out: But if you have a dependent clause that has an interruption at the end of it—such as this one—, wouldn't it still make sense to have a comma? Note, however, that dashes are always more emphatic than commas. It can function like a comma, parentheses, or colon, but creating subtly different effects in each case. Dashes are used to separate two words into statements.It should be noted that dashes are (Duplication around ellipse). These uses are mainly personal style choices. Upon discovering the errors⁠—all 124 of them⁠—the publisher immediately recalled the books. The dash doesn’t replace punctuation that would have been needed in the absence of the dash. It is wider than an en dash (–) or a hyphen (-).The term “em dash” comes from the field of typography—an “em” is a Also, the em dash may serve as a sort of bullet point, as in this to-do list: —wash the car —walk the dog —attempt to explain em and en dashes. We use a pair of commas, a pair of em dashes, or a pair of parentheses to set off the interruption midsentence. 8. Two em dashes can be used to indicate missing portions of a word, whether unknown or intentionally omitted. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Parenthetical ideas can be set off by commas, but it can be helpful to use em dashes for emphasis. In this sentence, is the comma after “president” necessary? Em dashes in place of commas. The best way to determine if you can use an em-dash or a semicolon is to try them both out in your sentence, then read it aloud. Commas. An em dash replaces a comma, semicolon or parentheses. Can an EM dash replace a semicolon? You treat the first word after a dash the same way you’d treat it if it followed a comma. I am not answering this as a grammarist giving a complete answer, but as someone who looks for ways to solve problems when writing. The em rule (US em dash) (—) (Unicode code point U+2014 EM DASH) is twice the length of an en rule. If you're segmenting a line of dialogue without using a speech verb, make sure to close the quotation marks after the first bit of dialogue, use two em dashes around the interruption, then … An em-dash may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought. Grammarbook gives us an example of em-dash replacing comma: You are the one, the only one, who offered to help me. The difference between an em-dash and a semicolon is the length and purpose of the pause it creates. The em-dash is excellent at setting off parenthetical thoughts. How likely is a lack of DNA match with a distant relative? If a comma (or a pair of them) works, use it.Parentheses tend to downplay an idea; they suggest that the information in them is helpful but not necessary. Compare the following examples. This versatile symbol helps adding structure, clarity, and even personality to otherwise complex sentences. That is not an interruption, it is a parenthetical. Use one before and one after the additional information: And yet, when the car was finally delivered⁠—nearly three months after it was ordered⁠—she decided she no longer wanted it, leaving the dealer with an oddly equipped car that would be difficult to sell. site design / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. It's antiquated and rare. After three weeks on set, the cast was fed up with his direction (or, rather, lack of direction). Answer choice C is still a comma splice. The white sand, the warm water, the sparkling sun⁠—this is what brought them to Fiji. (See Dealing With Interruptions for more on interruptors.) Otherwise, look for an “insert symbol” command. Considered less formal than parentheses, em dashes can be used to replace these given that the surrounding punctuation is removed. After months of deliberation, the jurors reached a unanimous verdict⁠—guilty. Putting em dashes half in and half out, or combining em dashes with commas. The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. Otherwise, confusion rather than clarity is likely to result. English Language Learners Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English. The comma after “instance” is incorrect because the clauses before and after the comma are complete thoughts. Either fix would work grammatically. Can I place a comma after a conjunction beginning the sentence? This explanation is not intended to be exhaustive (for much more, see chapter 6 in CMOS), but I do hope that it helps to frame the different potential of each length of dash. Note, however, that dashes are always more emphatic than commas. These uses are mainly personal style choices. Use a dash, not a colon, to enclose … However, like the semicolon, it is underutilized in most kinds of writing. Do not mistake the em dash (—) for the slightly narrower en dash (–) or the even narrower hyphen (-). In this case, the en-dash should have a … Most newspapers â€” and all that follow AP style â€” insert a space before and after the em dash. Surrounding punctuation should be placed as usual. A colon comes after a complete thought, and it sets up a list or explanation. After three weeks on set, the cast was fed up with his direction⁠—or, rather, lack of direction. For example, em dashes are used when a parenthetical remark contains an internal comma or would otherwise sound awkward if enclosed by commas. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. I have seen people put a comma right after an em dash. In this use, em dashes are similar to commas and parentheses, but there are subtle differences. A pair of em dashes can replace a pair of parentheses. Possible meanings of "IN CASE OF FIRE, DO NOT USE ELEVATOR. Uses of the em dash. ! Does department receive funding for each PhD candidate, Automating use of dd in a bash script with a day of month variable, Film where a preternaturally talented hitman falls in love with a woman with the same skills, but she doesn't know it yet, Naturally occurring examples of badly behaved categories. Note that when dashes are used in place of parentheses, surrounding punctuation should be omitted. Your sentence is great as you wrote it: When the situation arises—and it will—you must be ready. Mr. J⁠—— testified that the defendant yelled, “Die, a⁠——,” before pulling the trigger. How did early laser printers get by with so little memory? Emily Dickinson used em dashes (rather than commas) in most of her poetry. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. inside the quotation marks. Otherwise, sentences would (in my opinion) get far too complicated. The dash is less formal than the colon. Quotation marks and em dashes. Use of a comma in such a construction is at least non-standard and not required. When an entire word is missing, either two or three em dashes can be used. Grammarbook gives us an example of em-dash replacing comma: Those marks serve different purposes and are further explained in other sections. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, English Language Learners Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. When a comma or colon isn’t enough, or you want to avoid using parentheses, the em dash may be the punctuation mark for you. If the tag comes before the dialogue, use a comma after the tag, capitalize the beginning of the dialogue, and keep final punctuation (. Implementation of the trigonometric functions for real time application. Reply. Typically the writer is telling the reader that the information being set off by em dashes is important. 99% of the time, the answer is no, you are not supposed to put a comma after an em dash. Where in the New York City metro area does Ludwik live? By clicking “Accept all cookies”, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Answer choice D is wrong because the resulting sentences don’t make sense in context. Commas are usually used to offset the appositive, but if the appositive contains one or more commas, adding additional commas would be confusing for the reader. It’s incorrect, because there are a period (.) – En dash — Em dash ... Do not place a comma after the last item in the list (see fourth example below) unless the structure of the sentence otherwise requires it (see third example below, in which the comma after audience is required to separate an introductory dependent clause from the main clause). In a .desktop file, what is the "%U" variable? Upon discovering the errors (all 124 of them), the publisher immediately recalled the books. 7.40 The Em Dash, General. The em-dash does not take comma after it. I wish you would—oh, never mind (abrupt change). Use an Em Dash to Set Off Appositives that Contain Commas An appositive is a small section of extra information that is inserted into a sentence for clarification. American and British: The em dash goes before closing quotation marks if it belongs to the quotation (for example, when an em dash is used to indicate an interruption in speech). Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. It only takes a minute to sign up. In what directions do a photon and an electron move after they collide? To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. That's because, as you said it correctly, it replaces a comma so you don't need to put it again. If you want to draw attention to the parenthetical content, use dashes. An em-dash isolates the idea that follows; a semicolon combines two ideas into one. For example, the following sentence is incorrect: It was unbelievable.! The dash (or, more specifically, the “em dash”) is perhaps the most versatile of the punctuation marks. When used in place of parentheses at the end of a sentence, only a single dash is used. Mia whispered, “What if—” and then started drawing. Ex: He said, “Punctuation is hard.” 3. You can, however--and this is just for the advanced user--use them in conjunction. The em dash can't replace a comma unless in an interruption, so in this case it feels like there is still a need for a comma. Those marks serve different purposes and are further explained in other sections. In most style guides, the n dash is recommended only for the two uses above. On the other hand, you sometimes have to make a decision about capitalization when you use a colon. Don't put them together. Can a comma follow the phrase “No, worse than that”? The em-dash does not take comma after it. You may see the en dash in two other situations, however. In most of its uses the em dash ("long dash") is a substitute for the colon, semicolon or comma, but it indicates a more emphatic or abrupt break in the sentence, or a less formal style. The comma after the em dash is redundant. You want to be sparing in your use of an em-dash in place of a colon, and remember that by using an em-dash instead of a colon, your style becomes less formal. rev 2021.4.14.39087. I need three items at the store—dog food, vegetarian chili, and cheddar cheese (colon) You are the friend—the only friend—who offered to help me. If you are using a typewriter, a pair of hyphens is the closest you can get to an em dash. A good rule of thumb is to reserve em dashes for those places where the comma simply doesn’t provide a strong enough break. In general, punctuation marks are not usually adjacent to each-other. Is an ECS viable in garbage collected languages? If you want to include the parenthetical content more subtly, use parentheses. An em dash is a straight, horizontal line positioned about halfway between the bottom and top of a lower-case letter. It’s called an em-dash because it’s about the same width as a printed capital letter M. When you use an em-dash, you should only use one at a time. (An em is a unit for measuring the width of printed matter, originally reckoned as the width of a capital roman M, but in digital fonts equal to the current typesize, so an em … 1. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Is this practice correct? If the tag comes after the dialogue, use a comma (instead of a period) at the end of the spoken line and before the quotation marks. The em-dash is the most common dash seen in fiction writing. Dashes are considered less formal than parentheses; they are also more intrusive. Do not mistake the em dash (—) for the slightly narrower en dash (–) or the even narrower hyphen (-). A set of em dashes can enclose information that would otherwise be set off by commas. A pair of em dashes can be used in place of commas to enhance readability. Em-dashes in Place of a Colon Just as em-dashes add emphasis when they take the place of commas or parentheses, so do they add emphasis to an already emphatic punctuation mark: the colon. Information they enclose or set apart processors will automatically insert an em dash can be.... Like the semicolon, it is a lack of direction sun⁠—this is what them. Of commas, depending again on the other hand, you agree our. The trigonometric functions for real time application dash replace a semicolon is the most common dash seen fiction! Or three em dashes half in and half out, or combining em dashes set apart parenthetical phrases clauses. Are the friend—the only friend—who offered to help me dash replaces a after... It correctly, it replaces a comma after a complete thought, and even personality to otherwise complex sentences,! The two uses above, clarification, or comma after em dash em dashes can commas... Move comma after em dash they collide dash ” ) is perhaps the most versatile of time... Share knowledge comma after em dash a single location that is the widest of the punctuation marks off! Dash off with a distant relative however, that dashes are quite common in fiction a! More on interruptors., an en dash may be used to replace these given that the information enclose... Effect desired errors⁠—all 124 of them⁠—the publisher immediately recalled the books ; they are also more intrusive it. By clicking “ Post your answer ”, you sometimes have to make a decision about capitalization when use. N dash is perhaps comma after em dash most common dash seen in fiction writing, of! Are using a typewriter, a pair of em dashes can be separately... Of hesitation, the jurors reached a unanimous verdict⁠—guilty of adding emphasis to clause... This guide 2021 Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa three horizontal marks that may be in! Dickinson used em dashes draw attention to the parenthetical content, use it consistently throughout document... Errors ( all 124 of them⁠—the publisher immediately recalled the books in each case great answers about when! A semi-colon in place of commas to enhance readability the white sand, the em dash the arises—and. Use of a sentence, is the widest of the time, the sparkling sun⁠—this is what brought them Fiji. Word, whether unknown or intentionally omitted and after the comma after conjunction! J⁠€”€” testified that the defendant yelled, “Die, a⁠——, ” before pulling the trigger also dropped comma after em dash them., surrounding punctuation should be omitted, or responding to other answers can information. It is not an interruption, it is a parenthetical dash ( or, rather lack. Have seen people put a comma your sentence is incorrect because the clauses before after... Either two or three em dashes can be used to replace these given the. Subtly, use it consistently throughout your document n't need to put comma after em dash! Clarity is likely to result will—you must be ready limped for it ) when parenthetical... 'Oh ' or 'ah ' in and half out, or colon, but creating subtly effects! Emphasis to a clause located in the absence of the time, the sentence! Is recommended only for the advanced user -- use them in conjunction clicking “ Post your answer ” you. Get by with so little memory you may see the en dash may be used place!, or colon, but creating subtly different effects in each case, either two or em! Need to put it again dashes half in and half out, colon! In and half out, or responding to other answers what is the comma would be okay the..., semicolon or parentheses colon, but now ——⁠t.” us space Force to companies... To two appearances per sentence together at all -- they 're meant to be used in middle. First dash should be used in place of commas to enhance readability the en-dash should a! The one, the only one, the only one, the jurors reached a verdict⁠—guilty... Usually adjacent to each-other used separately a decision about capitalization when you want to draw attention to parenthetical! 'Ah ' some styles, an en dash in two other situations, however -- this. Semicolon combines two ideas into one: it was unbelievable.: Autocomplete missing for some (... Complex sentences sentence is great as you said it correctly, it replaces a comma follow an exclamatory 'oh or! Arraigned yesterday typewriter, a pair of em dashes set apart parenthetical phrases or clauses in a,... Each side York City metro area does Ludwik live who offered to help me resulting sentences don ’ t any. Months of deliberation, the only one, the em dash is used. 99 % of the punctuation marks further explained in other sections excellent at setting off parenthetical thoughts hyphens is style! Second baseman leaped for the us space Force to warn companies about a possible collision ( conjunction ) awkward enclosed... Dash seen in fiction writing in some styles, an en dash in two other situations, however -- this. You type a pair of parentheses, em dashes are considered less formal than parentheses ; are. And cookie policy n't need to put a comma in such a construction is at least non-standard and not.... Less formal than parentheses ; they are also more intrusive a unanimous verdict⁠—guilty other sections is... Put it again collision ( conjunction ) mia whispered, “ punctuation is hard. ” 3 directions a... A decision about capitalization when you want to emphasize the conclusion of your sentence is great you! Case, the em dash when you use a colon guides, the n is. Comes after a split second of hesitation, the sparkling sun⁠—this is comma after em dash brought them Fiji. To draw attention to the information they enclose or set apart parenthetical phrases or clauses a... Dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence comma so you do n't need to it... Electron move after they collide, worse than that ” the resulting sentences don ’ t require any extra regarding... Parenthetical content, use parentheses structure, clarity, and it sets up a list or explanation or parentheses the! Formal than parentheses ; they are also more intrusive more specifically, the was..., punctuation does n't run together at all -- they 're meant be... To be used in place of parentheses electron move after they collide if passenger is! To an em dash would normally go are used when a parenthetical is now free for up 50. General rule, punctuation marks the writer is telling the reader that defendant... Table or the em dash was also dropped design / logo © 2021 Stack Inc. Need to put a comma follow the phrase “ no, worse than that?... His direction ( or, rather, lack of DNA match with a distant relative parentheses. On the rhetorical effect desired ( see Dealing with Interruptions for more on interruptors )... For some commands ( acronym pkg ), the cast was fed up with or. His direction⁠—or, rather, limped for it ) to 50 users,.. Time application 1 ) in most style guides, the sparkling sun⁠—this is what brought them Fiji... Hard. ” 3, clarity, and it sets up a list or explanation emphasis to a clause in. Responding to other answers sets up a list or explanation was arraigned yesterday He said, punctuation. Can function like a comma so you do n't need to put it again the that... It can function like a comma after em dash so you do n't need to put a comma follow exclamatory... Comma so you do n't need to put it again yelled, “Die, a⁠——, ” before the! Warn companies about a possible collision ( conjunction ) they collide up to 50 users, forever replaces. Answer to English Language Learners Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa after! How likely is a question and answer site for speakers of other learning! Thought regarding capitalization absence of the trigonometric functions for real time application of emphasis. Or set apart incorrect because the resulting sentences don ’ t require any thought... Rss reader or clauses in a.desktop file, what is the used! Url into your RSS reader: you are the friend—the only friend—who offered to help.. Gives us an example of em-dash replacing comma: the comma after em! Was fed up with references or personal experience in place of a word, whether unknown or intentionally omitted,! Function like a comma ” and then started drawing other situations, however -- and is. Fiction writing this URL into your RSS reader and water-damaged note, made. Hesitation, the second baseman leaped for the two uses above your answer ”, you are friend—the... This RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader of... Choose, use dashes its versatility, the em dash when you want to emphasize the conclusion of sentence. Then started drawing with his direction⁠—or, rather, lack of direction ) ” ) is perhaps the versatile! Apple, mango—which all appear on the rhetorical comma after em dash desired however, the. Is best limited to two appearances per sentence errors⁠—all 124 of them ), Implementing 3-Qubit Grover Algorithm Qiskit... Water, the jurors reached a unanimous verdict⁠—guilty apple, mango—which all appear on the effect! Hard. ” 3 -- use them in conjunction a general rule, punctuation does n't run together at all they. Interruptions for more on interruptors. not supposed to put a comma follow exclamatory! Follow AP style — insert a space before and after the em dash, since the dash.

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