Dashes

A dash is a punctuation mark (—) used to create a strong break in the structure of a sentence.

A dash is used to set off information that is added to a sentence, to indicate a pause, or to create emphasis.

A dash (—) is longer than a hyphen (-) and is used to connect clauses or phrases, while a hyphen is used to join words or parts of words.

Dashes can add drama or emphasis to a sentence, making the information stand out.

After 'loudly': 'The dog barked loudly — he wanted to go outside.'

Example: 'She was the best player on the team — no one could deny that.'

Use dashes to set off appositives that add non-essential information: 'My brother — a talented musician — is performing tonight.'

The book — a thrilling mystery — kept me up all night.

Yes, dashes can replace commas for added emphasis or to create a more dramatic pause.

Using multiple dashes can create a complex structure and emphasize different parts of the sentence.