Copyediting Tips, Rose O'Rua

COPYEDITING TIPS

Rules for using DASH:

An endash (–) is used to connect numbers or to connect elements of a compound adjective:  1868–1878, Dublin–Cork trains.

The emdash (—) is twice as long as the endash.  It is used to:

1.  Indicate a break in thought or sentence structure

2.  Introduce a phrase added for emphasis, definition, or explanation

3.  Separate two clauses

I used to be indecisive—but now I’m not so sure.

– (On Mac Keyboard:  Opt and minus)

— (On Mac Keyboard:  Shift and Opt and minus) 

You may also like...