Em dash in legal writing software

Mari says, she told me he took everythingher handbag, her money, her cellphone. Apr 23, 2019 in contrast to the bare style, emdash dialogue feels louder because the speech is set off from the prose with that sharp little line. Weve sat down, given thanks for the meal, and folks are chatting. This ultrasimple program makes it easy for you to just type the dash and move on. The dash, also called the em dash, is the long horizontal bar, much longer than a hyphen. There are three punctuation marks considered in this article the em dash, the en dash, the hyphen. Using em dashes instead of parentheses puts the focus on the information between the em dashes. French legislative counsel have been using them since the french versions of the acts were modernized, at the time of the 1985 statute revision.

An emdash, an endash, and a hyphen walk into a bar. You can use a pair of em dashes as you might a pair of commas or brackets in a sentence. Note that in british english, an en dash with spaces on either side is used instead of an em dash. Notwithstanding its versatility, the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence.

If your word document has an em dash or en dash and you want to remove it, do one of the following. Emdash is double the length of endash and is used without spacing on either sides unlike in endash that requires spacing on both ends. Skilled legal writers usually limit their em dashes to trimbles fifth. This punctuation mark is used primarily in informal writing in place of a comma, colon, semicolon, or parentheses to provide emphasis.

As you know one of the most common versions of the dash in typography are the. Dashes explorations of style a blog about academic writing. In british english, which is more common the em dash or the. With hyphens and dashes, spellcheck and editing software may. A long dash often called an em dash because it is the width of a letter m is what we will be talking about below. A writer s use of dashes hyphens, em dashes, and en dashes is one of the typographical elements that jump out at editors.

It is used in writing or printing to indicate a range or connections. Misusing em dashes like other writing tools, lawyers can misuse the em dash. Using an em dash we use the em dash in sentences to create a strong break to show an interruption, a change of thought, or to show emphasis. Dashes, if used incorrectly, can actually confuse readers not just bother detailoriented editors. An em dash might set off a phrase at the end of a sentencelike. Jun 20, 2019 lets take a look at the different types of dashes you can use in your writing, and when and when not to use a hyphen. It is a dash longer than an en dash and three times as long as a hyphen if you are looking for an easy way to type this em dash in word, youve come to the right place. Use it when a comma is too weak, but a colon, semicolon, or pair of parentheses is too strong. The em dash can be used in place of some commas, parentheses, colons, and semicolons. They look similar but have different uses in your business writing.

An emdash also called a long dash or thick dash is approximately the width of the letter m, which is where it earns its name. The en dash is slightly longer than the hyphen but not as long as the em dash. The character is called an em dash because it is one em wide, a length that varies depending on the font size. The en dash is slightly wider than the hyphen but narrower than the em dash. The em dash, the en dash, and the hyphen all have distinct personalities.

The endash is shorter than an emdash and longer than a hyphen. When used appropriatelyand sparinglythe emdash is an easily implemented, powerful visual rhetoric technique for legal writing. The em dash may also be used when there is an interruption in the thought of the same speaker. The most annoying hyphenation mistake that i see in legal writing could very well be the overuse. Shortcuts for other software, like openoffice, will vary. Apr 06, 2011 a short dash often called an endash because it is the width of the letter n separates items such as dates or page numbers e. Em dash this is the dash that was used all throughout the dash section of this packet.

It alsoand this might be its worst sindisrupts the flow of a sentence. The most commonly used and most versatile of the dashes the chicago manual of style, 16th ed. It does this in a variety of ways you choose which ones you like. Dont replace the second emdash as some tend to with a comma or semicolon. There are three different types of dashes in english writing. Use an en dash to separate out a phrase within a sentence perhaps to break up the text, or add emphasis instead of commas or brackets. In actual typeset contexts, though, the em dash is definitely more common in ame than in bre. We use em dashes to add emphasis to the size of the car. A short dash often called an en dash because it is the width of the letter n separates items such as dates or page numbers e.

Em dashes are often used to set off parenthetical information. The em dash puts a nice pause in the textand it is underused in professional writing. Tips for effective punctuation in legal writing georgetown law. Two tips for punctuating interrupted dialogue keli gwyns blog. Komugi comes in and takes something from one of the cartons piled against the walla fresh bathrobe to replace the one from room 404. The most common types of dashes are the en dash and the em dash. The em dash can replace commas, colons and parentheses. Turns out the em dash also known as an m dash, mrule, the long dash, or, in the grammatical slang circles, mutton, and i am not making that up is just that extended dash you see when there is a break in narration or conversation. If your software does not readily create an em dash for you, you can copy an em dash from the internet and paste it into your file. You can as well copy and paste it into any text editing software of your choice. A closed em dash is much worse in documents typeset in tex, where the dash without manual spacing practically touches the letters either side of it. A long dash often called an emdash because it is the width of a letter m is what we will be talking about below. Good writers use parentheses and em dashes skillfully to tighten and strengthen their prose.

When used well, however, they help the flow of ideas like nothing else. The em dash, em rule, or mutton is longer than an en dash. But modern wordprocessing programs can directly insert an em dash. When and how to use the dash, the en dash, and the em dash. The em dash can be used in a number of different ways, including the creation of a break in thought, a conversational colon, adding emphasis to a concluding phrase, a parenthetical. It can replace commas, parentheses, or colons, depending on the context of the sentence. Em dashes so called because they are at least historically the width of the character m are used for emphasis or interruption. If your keyboard cant produce a dash, you will have to resort to a hyphen as a standin. The most common uses of em dashes are for bracketing parenthetical information and for adding emphasis. They can be used on their own or in pairs to offset a word or phrase. The em dash created on microsoft word by two hyphens and a spaceis a versatile punctuation mark that can replace parentheses, commas, and colons. What is the difference between an emdashdoublehyphen and an ellipsis.

For over a decade, weve been writing about and advocating for lawyers to adopt better legal writing and typography practices. Although a writers individual styletogether with the information or message to be conveyeddetermines how these marks are used, some guidelines can suggest which mark to choose in a specific instance. Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons. Otherwise, as trimble points out, youll simply confuse your reader, and your prose will look like chopped carrots.

En dashes, in between em dashes and dashes, are for a range of items, like numbers, 16. The em dash is perhaps the most underused mark of legal writing. What are the origins of terms em and en as typographic. The novelty of the em dash makes it perfect for text that you want to stand out. Hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes help readers clearly understand your message. Thomas jefferson 17431826 oxford american dictionary 21719. What is the difference between an emdashdoublehyphen and. Its principal use is as an equivalent of to when marking a span or range of dates, page numbers, scores, and the like. One em is the same length as the fonts height which is typically measured in points. Punctuation replaced original sentence em dash sentence parentheses justice sotomayor she replaced justice souter has.

Em dashes, en dashes and hyphens mistakes writers make. Sep 18, 2017 perhaps a useful way to think of the em dash is as a pause or parenthesis with somewhat more emphasis than a comma and somewhat less than parentheses. Effective use of the hyphen, en dash, and em dash in legal. Appellate advocacy blog law professor blogs network typepad. Sep 15, 2016 we use emdashes to add emphasis to the size of the car. We do a lot of teaching about legal writing and communications issues in our lawyerist lab program and include questions about these issues in our small firm scorecard. Good legal writing should be written in plain language that is easy to read and understand and that clearly and directly communicates its intent. Conscientious writers know how to use the en dash correctly. Nov 01, 2017 there are three punctuation marks considered in this article the em dash, the en dash, the hyphen. Place the text cursor after the em dash or en dash, then press the backspace key. Inserting the em dash sign into your work can be as simple as copy and paste. When you want a redcarpet moment a pause, a spotlight on a particular phrase or clause, an abrupt break in thought you go to em dash. Putting spaces before and after an em dash is a matter of preference. There are two main types of dashes used in writing.

What are the origins of terms em and en as typographic units. For a more polished look, use em dashes rather than double hyphens or en dashes. The em dash is not used when a comment by the narrator is inserted in dialog. There are two similar but distinct punctuation marks called dashes. Few keyboards have a dash, but a word processor can usually produce one in one way or another. Dont fear the em dashit can add energy and much needed variety to your prose. The two most common dashes are the em dash and the en dash. This article provides a short overview when legal writers should useand not usethese three different dash marks.

Ive been chatting with some of my fellow word nerds about the use of dashes, and it seems we are less in agreement than usual, so it may be time to share my thoughts. Difference between dash and hyphen compare the difference. A common myth holds that the en dash is, in fact, the width of a typesetters letter n, whereas the em dash is the width of the letter mthus their names. The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. It can even start to resemble playwriting, especially with extended stretches sans dialogue tags, almost as if youre reading a script with some stage directions tossed in. Its also important that when you set off a phrase using em dashes that you used one emdash immediately after the noun the phrase is describing and one immediately after the phrase.

Like a carpenter with precision tools, em dashes will polish your prose and make your legal writing stand out from the mediocre. You can also use a dash on its own to mark a break in a sentence try it instead of a semicolon. Check this document often, as these lists may grow. They are named as such because an en dash is roughly the size of a typed letter n and the em dash is roughly the size of a typed letter m. Use one before the parenthetical information and one after it.

Sep 11, 2012 there are two different dashes, the emdash and the endash. The em dash is used to make a break between parts of a sentence. Because legal writing values conciseness, when in doubt, stick with writing two sentences. Infinitely usefulboth connect ideas without the break of a new sentenceyet vaguely understood, both the semicolon and the em dash tend to be either ignored or overused. When should i use an emdash, an endash, and a hyphen. Endash is used to denote a range as in numbers whereas emdash is used to give a pause or as an afterthought in between words in a. Note that the examples are given in illustration of the point being made, not of the heights of fine drafting to which one might aspire. I generally know how to use a hyphen, but when should i use an endash instead of an emdash, or when should i use a hyphen instead of an emdash. Suddenly you realize youre sitting next to your mysterious cousin en dash.

It is the longest dash, compared to a hyphen or an en dash. Those who use word can make use of the programs auto correct feature to replace an oldfashioned twohyphen em dash with an actual em dash. Now the question is what means em and en in typographic context really and what are the origins of these terms. Download here dashes, the em dash, and the en dash. You should check with your style guide on its rules for using em dashes. An em dash is a versatile bit of punctuation that can function like a comma or colon or set of parentheses. The elements of legal writing 2 offers the rules set out below for the use of dashes in legal drafting. The em dash also gives you another option when the standard commas, parentheses, or colons dont quite strike the desired tone. Ive used semicolons and em dashes liberally in my writing since college.

Hyphens, em dashes, en dasheseverything you need to know. Shes a lovely girl, butand you may hate me for saying soshe cannot dance for the life of her. Perhaps the most underused punctuation mark in american writing. I just realised a closed em dash doesnt look too bad in these comments because there is a very slight space either side of it, but i still stand by the above. Refer to the crowdsource style guide for all requirements regarding punctuation, grammar, spelling and syntax. If you prefer to use a true en dash, most keyboards dont include a key for it, but a simple shortcut is available. Use a pair of emdashes to mark off an abrupt break in a. The dashes in question are long dashes, known as em dashes, as. Here are some example from haruki murakamis after dark. Nov 28, 2011 the em dash is the long dash that used to be shown, back in precomputer days, by typing two hyphens.

In many software programs, an emdash is created by typing two. Em dashes are often used to indicate a sudden break in thought. The em dash draws a readers attention, partly because of the physical separation that the longer dash creates and partly because these dashes appear less frequently than hyphens and en dashes. Writing offers the rules set out below for the use of dashes in legal drafting. After a long day of writing, and editing, and more writing, and more editing, there was only one thing for it wine. Youll find that the em dash adds energyand much needed varietyto your prose. The emdash is not used when a comment by the narrator is inserted in dialog. Both terms are acceptable but ill use dash in this article. Some advocates of the plain english approach openly embrace it for its ability to liven up a piece of text. The em dash is mostly used in informal writing such as friendly letters, emails, and journals. Terminology dashes are sometimes referred to as rules, especially in the uk. Highlight the em dash or en dash using your mouse, then press the delete key. If youre a writer, then you need the em and en dashes.

There are also a number of additional style rules you must follow listed below. Its also important that when you set off a phrase using emdashes that you used one emdash immediately after the noun the phrase is describing and one immediately after the phrase. Should you be using a space before and after an em dash. Mar 08, 2019 while the em dash was once considered inappropriate for more formal writing, its use in legal briefs and other legal writing has become widely accepted. Dashes are used in more or less the same way in both french and english. The emdash may also be used when there is an interruption in the thought of the same speaker. Blog grammar ruleshow to use hyphens and dashes in business writing. How to insert an en dash or em dash in microsoft word. If you find yourself wanting to throw in a little extra information about a noun in a particular sentence and are not sure whether the parentheses or the emdash is the way to go, read the sentence out loud. Although many people call the hyphen a dash, dash refers to another group of horizontal lines in text. A good way to remember the difference between these two dashes is to visualize the en dash as the length of the letter n and the em dash as the length of the letter m. The em dash is made on most pcs by holding down the alt key while typing 0151 on the keypad. Em and en refer to units of typographic measurement, not to the letters m or n. Read em dashes en dashes and hyphens from the story how to write fiction by eliciahyder elicia hyder with 8,963 reads.

Effective punctuation handout 1 columbia law school. But note that the emdash is rather informal and rarely used in scientific writing. Em dashes the em dashcreated on microsoft word by two hyphens and a spaceis a versatile punctuation mark that can replace parentheses, commas, and colons. How to create an en dash in microsoft word like many people, i use microsoft word as my word processor, even on my mac. The en dash is distinct from the hyphen and the em dash.

Heres a good strategy to use when trying to decide whether to use em dashes or parentheses in your writing. Em dasheswhy writers should use them more sparingly. So in 9point type, an em dash is nine points wide, while in 24point type the em. In informal writing, em dashes may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and. How to write fiction em dashes en dashes and hyphens wattpad. Oxfords new harts rules nhr refers to the en rule and the em rule whereas the chicago manual of style cmos discusses en dashes and em dashes. Using em dashes in this way can add real flair and energy to your writinga dash aha.