Dashes

​Punctuation for a Pause

A dash (--) is a horizontal line that is longer than a hyphen.
A dash often represents a pause in a sentence.

Punctuation can signal how the writer wants the text to be read. Writers uses dashes to indicate an interruption or something they want to call attention to.

Dash -- break in thought

Writers sometimes use dashes to indicate a break in thought.

I was heading to the store -- but then I remembered that I didn't have my wallet.

The meeting was supposed to start at 10 -- or was it 11? No one knows for sure.

"Yeah, I was wondering about that, but I --"

Dash -- signal a pause

Writers can also use dashes as a signal to readers to pause and pay attention.

Mount Rainier's Liberty Ridge climbing route is known for its amazing views and technical difficulty -- not to mention its long history of mountaineering accidents.

The results were astonishing -- more than we ever anticipated!

​I thought ellipses were used to show a break or pause?

It's true -- you can use an ellipsis OR a dash to show a break or pause in your sentence! Choosing which one to use is all about what you are intending when you write.

Dashes are used to show ABRUPT BREAKS, whereas ellipses are used to show thoughts trailing off slowly.

​Dash -- parenthetical

Writers can also use dashes in place of commas, colons, or parentheses. Dashes used this way can separate additional details in your sentence.

Mr. Lieb -- the eighth grade science teacher -- is preparing students to take the PSSAs.

I need three items from the store -- taco shells, cheddar cheese, and sour cream.

After taking all of his final exams -- including four essays and three multiple-choice tests -- Drew just wants to sleep.