Dash, En Dash, and Em Dash in English with Examples

Learn all types of dashes in English with usage, examples, and when or not to use dashes in English. In this lesson, we will learn all about dashes in English with easy and helpful example sentences. This lesson is going to be very helpful for you to strengthen your English grammar and conversation skills. Let’s begin with today’s lesson:

Definition of Dash

The term “dash” refers to a punctuation mark that is used to separate and connect words or groups of words in a sentence.

Examples of Dash:

• Compound Words:
  • air-conditioned
  • well-known
  • high-speed
• Connecting Words or Phrases:
  • The teacher-student relationship is crucial for effective learning.
  • It was a rainy-windy day, making outdoor activities challenging.
  • The post-workout snack was protein-packed and energy-boosting.

Also learn: Usage of Full Stop in English

Types of Dashes

There are three primary types of dashes in English:

• The en dash (–)
• The em dash (—)
• The hyphen (-)

What is an En Dash?

An en dash (–) is a punctuation mark that is wider than a hyphen (-) but narrower than an em dash (—).

Definition: The en dash is slightly longer than a hyphen and is used to represent a range of values, such as numbers, dates, or time.

Usage of En Dash in English:

It is often used to indicate inclusive numerical ranges (e.g., pages 10–20, 2010–2015) and in certain compound adjectives when connecting words that already have hyphens (e.g., the New York–London flight).

Examples of En Dash:

• The meeting is scheduled for Monday–Friday.
• The temperature will range from 20–30 degrees Celsius.
• The years 2000–2010 were marked by significant changes.

Also learn: Usage of Comma in English

When or Not to Use an En Dash (–)

The en dash (–) has specific use cases in writing, and understanding when to use it can help improve clarity and convey specific meanings. Here are some common situations when you should and should not use an en dash:

Use an En Dash (–):

1. Number Ranges:
   • Use an en dash to indicate a range between numbers.
     • Example: The meeting is scheduled for April 5–7.
2. Date Ranges:
   • Use an en dash to represent a span of dates.
     • Example: The project will run from January 1–March 31.
3. Time Ranges:
   • Use an en dash to show a span of time.
     • Example: The conference is from 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
4. Connections Between Related Items:
   • Use an en dash to connect related items, often in compound terms.
     • Example: The New York–London flight was delayed.
5. Direction or Connection:
   • Use an en dash to express a connection or direction.
     • Example: The Paris–Berlin train route is popular.

Do Not Use an En Dash (–):

1. Between Words in a Phrase:
   • Do not use an en dash to join words in a phrase.
     • Incorrect: The team is working on a high–priority project.
     • Correct: The team is working on a high-priority project.
2. In Place of a Hyphen for Compound Words:
   • Do not use an en dash as a substitute for a hyphen in compound words.
     • Incorrect: This is a time–saving technique.
     • Correct: This is a time-saving technique.
3. For Parenthetical Phrases:
   • Do not use an en dash to set off parenthetical phrases; use an em dash for that purpose.
     • Incorrect: The team—consisting of experts—was formed.
     • Correct: The team—consisting of experts—was formed.

Also learn: Colon in English with Usage and Examples

What is an Em Dash?

Em dashes are confusing because they look similar to en dashes and hyphens, but they behave similarly to a range of other punctuation marks, depending on the sentence.

Definition: The em dash is longer than the en dash and is primarily used to set off or emphasize a phrase within a sentence.

Usage of Em Dash in English:

It can be used to indicate a sudden change in thought, to emphasize information, or to set off a parenthetical statement.

Examples of Em Dash:

• She finally decided—it took her hours—to paint the room blue.
• The car—old and battered—still ran smoothly.
• The concert—featuring famous artists—will start at 7:00 P.M.

When or Not to Use an Em Dash

The em dash (—) is a versatile punctuation mark, but its usage should be intentional and in accordance with certain guidelines. Here are situations when you should and should not use an em dash:

Use an Em Dash (—):

1. Emphasizing Information:
   • Use an em dash to add emphasis to a particular part of a sentence.
     • Example: The weather—unpredictable as always—affected our plans.
2. Interrupting Thoughts or Phrases:
   • Use an em dash to indicate an abrupt change or interruption in thought.
     • Example: She was finally ready to confront her fears—after years of avoidance.
3. Setting Off Parenthetical Phrases:
   • Use an em dash to set off parenthetical information within a sentence.
     • Example: The team—consisting of experts—completed the project ahead of schedule.
4. Creating a Dramatic Pause:
   • Use an em dash to create a dramatic or emphatic pause.
     • Example: The verdict was clear—guilty.

Do Not Use an Em Dash (—):

1. In Place of Other Punctuation:
   • Do not use an em dash interchangeably with colons, semicolons, or commas.
     • Incorrect: The options are—go home or stay.
     • Correct: The options are: go home or stay.
2. For Simple Lists:
   • Do not use an em dash to introduce a simple list; use a colon or comma instead.
     • Incorrect: The ingredients for the recipe are—flour, sugar, and eggs.
     • Correct: The ingredients for the recipe are: flour, sugar, and eggs.
3. Between Two Independent Clauses:
   • Do not use an em dash to connect two independent clauses; use a semicolon or a conjunction instead.
     • Incorrect: The sun set; the stars appeared.
     • Correct: The sun set, and the stars appeared.
4. As a Substitute for a Hyphen in Compound Words:
   • Do not use an em dash as a substitute for a hyphen in compound words.
     • Incorrect: This is a time—saving technique.
     • Correct: This is a time-saving technique.

Also learn: Semicolon in English

What is a Hyphen?

A hyphen is yet another piece of punctuation that can be difficult to use.

Definition: The hyphen is the shortest of the three and is used to join words or parts of words, especially in compound words.

Usage of Hyphen in English:

It is used in compound words, prefixes, and suffixes and can be employed to avoid ambiguity or improve readability.

Examples of Hyphen:

• Well-known
• Mother-in-law
• Twenty-one

When or Not to Use a Hyphen

The hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark used in various contexts. Understanding when to use a hyphen is crucial for maintaining clarity and correctness in your writing. Here are situations when you should and should not use a hyphen:

Use a Hyphen (-):

1. Compound Words:
   • Use a hyphen to join words that form a single concept or modify a noun.
     • Example: well-known author, high-speed train
2. Numbers and Fractions:
   • Use a hyphen in compound numbers and fractions.
     • Example: twenty-five, two-thirds
3. Connect Prefixes to Words:
   • Use a hyphen to connect prefixes to words to avoid confusion or misinterpretation.
     • Example: anti-inflammatory, pre-existing
4. Joining Contrasting Words:
   • Use a hyphen to join contrasting words for clarity.
     • Example: love-hate relationship, high-low
5. Expressions of Time:
   • Use a hyphen in expressions of time when they are used as adjectives.
     • Example: a three-week vacation, a two-hour movie

Do Not Use a Hyphen (-):

1. Between Words in a Simple Phrase:
   • Do not use a hyphen to join simple, commonly used phrases.
     • Incorrect: The book is on the coffee-table.
     • Correct: The book is on the coffee table.
2. Between Adverbs and Adjectives:
   • Do not use a hyphen between an adverb ending in -ly and an adjective.
     • Incorrect: a beautifully-illustrated book
     • Correct: a beautifully illustrated book
3. With Certain Prefixes:
   • Do not use a hyphen with certain prefixes, such as “un,” “re,” and “in.”
     • Incorrect: re-do the experiment
     • Correct: redo the experiment
4. Between Noun and Verb Combinations:
   • Do not use a hyphen between a noun and a verb.
     • Incorrect: snow-falls
     • Correct: snow falls
5. In Proper Nouns:
   • Avoid using hyphens in proper nouns unless they are part of the recognized name.
     • Incorrect: the Mississippi-River
     • Correct: the Mississippi River

Also learn: Exclamation Mark in English

Differences between Dash, En Dash, Em Dash, and Hyphen

Punctuation Mark	Symbol	Length	Primary Uses
Dash	–	Variable	Connects and separates words or phrases
En Dash	–	Longer than hyphen	Indicates ranges (e.g., 10–20) and connections between related items
Em Dash	—	Longer than en dash	Emphasizes information, sets off parenthetical phrases, and indicates abrupt changes or interruptions in thought
Hyphen	–	Shorter than en dash	Joins words in compound terms, connects prefixes and suffixes, and separates syllables in a word

Realted Lessons:

• Full Stop (.) When to Use or Not to Use

• When to Use a Comma (,) in English

• Colons ( : ) in English

• Semicolon (;) Definition, Usage, Rules, and Examples