|
KatyXY
|
|
|
|
Hi there. I use a dash sometimes. I have looked this up to be perfectly correct and find differing explanations. I see from contemporary books that a single dash is used when emphasizing something like 'She said you cannot - cannot do that.' Or 'All that were left were vestiges - vesitges that did not belong in his world.' I like using the dash as it adds speed and emphasis but maybe I am wrong.  It does say on one site to use a double hypen for a dash but I have not seen this used in any contemporary book. Does anyone have any thoughts on this please. Katy.
'But words are things, and a small drop of ink, Falling like dew, upon a thought, produces That which makes thousands, perhaps millions think. Byron
|
|
Keel
|
|
|
|
Quite a few use a dash in place of parenthesis. Wrong I would think, but a dash does look better than the words being in the middle of a garbage crusher. It’s a bit like double inverted commas. I grew up with them but it seems like they’re not the done thing now. Someone is making up the rules as they go along.
Hey saucy, that's the best offer I've had all night.
|
|
KatyXY
|
|
|
|
Quote: Keel, Sunday, 22 Nov 2009 17:42Quite a few use a dash in place of parenthesis. Wrong I would think, but a dash does look better than the words being in the middle of a garbage crusher. It’s a bit like double inverted commas. I grew up with them but it seems like they’re not the done thing now. Someone is making up the rules as they go along. Thanks for that Keel. I read a lot of the contemporary thrillers and the dash seems prevalent. Katy
'But words are things, and a small drop of ink, Falling like dew, upon a thought, produces That which makes thousands, perhaps millions think. Byron
|
|
sophiemp
|
|
|
|
I love dashes, and I use them whenever I want.
I tend to use them when I want to clarify something, whereas I use parentheses when I want to add something that's really beside the point. If I were David Foster Wallace, I would use footnotes.
There are editors whose job it is to point out grammatical errors, faulty usage, and questionable punctuation. The author is responsible for the final text. They tell you the rules so you can make an informed choice.
And to all those who say there are no rules, I say, yes, there ARE rules, but you don't have to follow them.
|
|
FLASHECHOES
|
|
|
|
I sometimes use dashes to add or insert a qualifying clause, or for emphasis. But rather than hyphens, I use 'en bars' which are longer. Some writers use 'em bars', which are longer still. I reserve the latter for ending abruptly interrupted speech. (As opposed to trailing-off speech, where an ellipsis seems to be the convention.) On forum MBs, I use 'double hyphens' -- because of lack of access to the above 'special symbols'. I don't recall ever seeing 'double hyphens' in a book. Cheers Flash
"In any case, in talking about the past we lie with every breath we draw." (from "So Long, See You Tomorrow" by William Maxwell.)
|
|
KatyXY
|
|
|
|
Quote: sophiemp, Monday, 23 Nov 2009 01:13I love dashes, and I use them whenever I want. I tend to use them when I want to clarify something, whereas I use parentheses when I want to add something that's really beside the point. If I were David Foster Wallace, I would use footnotes. There are editors whose job it is to point out grammatical errors, faulty usage, and questionable punctuation. The author is responsible for the final text. They tell you the rules so you can make an informed choice. And to all those who say there are no rules, I say, yes, there ARE rules, but you don't have to follow them. Thanks Sophie, I love them too but when I read over my work I think maybe I made too much use of them and ellipses. I get mid rating for language and dialogue and this is where I use the dashes and ellipses. So I thought I had better sort this out. So I've been through it, taken some out and left the absolutely necessary ones in. As you write, I love them, dashes seem to be part of my natural writing. Cheers Katy.
'But words are things, and a small drop of ink, Falling like dew, upon a thought, produces That which makes thousands, perhaps millions think. Byron
|
|
KatyXY
|
|
|
|
Quote: FLASHECHOES, Monday, 23 Nov 2009 09:17I sometimes use dashes to add or insert a qualifying clause, or for emphasis. But rather than hyphens, I use 'en bars' which are longer. Some writers use 'em bars', which are longer still. I reserve the latter for ending abruptly interrupted speech. (As opposed to trailing-off speech, where an ellipsis seems to be the convention.) On forum MBs, I use 'double hyphens' -- because of lack of access to the above 'special symbols'. I don't recall ever seeing 'double hyphens' in a book. Cheers Flash Hi Flash, Like you I use the 'en bars' from 'symbols'. Love them. But I think I have overused them. I like to try and emulate natural speech with them or quicken the pace of the text but I think quite a few people are averse to them. Never mind, the general opinion on here so far is to use want you want. Cheers and thanks, Katy.
'But words are things, and a small drop of ink, Falling like dew, upon a thought, produces That which makes thousands, perhaps millions think. Byron
|
|
unclearthur
|
|
|
|
Quote: KatyXY, Sunday, 22 Nov 2009 16:52Hi there. I use a dash sometimes. I have looked this up to be perfectly correct and find differing explanations. I see from contemporary books that a single dash is used when emphasizing something like 'She said you cannot - cannot do that.' Or 'All that were left were vestiges - vesitges that did not belong in his world.' I like using the dash as it adds speed and emphasis but maybe I am wrong. It does say on one site to use a double hypen for a dash but I have not seen this used in any contemporary book. Does anyone have any thoughts on this please. Katy. 'She said you cannot - cannot do that' 'She said you cannot... cannot do that.' I wouldn't use a dash in speech - it's just a break (sorry!). It gives no added emphasis. Fine in narrative, though. In your second example I prefer a colon: not that I'd have used identical words in tandem. Hope this sounds helpful rather than pedantic.
This post was last edited by unclearthur, 29 Nov 2009, 19:59
 www.cavalrytales.co.uk'The battle that never ends is the battle of belief against disbelief'
|
|
pink rose
|
|
|
|
About the dash:
this is a very practical question. How do you find the dash as opposed to the hyphen on your computer?
I've been using hyphens in place of dashes as the only option I seem to have is either a hypen (-) or a lower score dash e.g. _
Neither option is what I want.
A literary agent is interested in working with me on one of my books and has pointed this out. He wants me to corret it, but I don't know how to. Can anyone help? Thanks.
|
|
pink rose
|
|
|
|
Hey, I've just re-read this thread, looked up symbols and answered my own question. Thanks!
|
When to use the dash
22 Nov 2009, 16:52
