THE DASH

1) Use a dash to show a break in speech.

Example: “I--I can’t do it!” exclaimed the girl. “I can’t--!” exclaimed the girl.

2) Use a dash to emphasize important information that abruptly interrupts a sentence.

Example: The crowd marveled as the circus performer-- using one finger--lifted fifty pounds.

3) Use a dash to signal a change in thought (or to signal an unfinished thought).

Example: The winner of today’s baseball game-- assuming we aren’t rained out--will play in the regional semifinals. The appetizers--supposedly the restaurant’s specialty-- left us disappointed.

4) Use a dash to set off a long explanatory statement that interrupts the main thought of a sentence.

Example: They desperately searched everywhere-- under the seats, in the aisle, in the lobby--trying to find their car keys.

4) Use a dash to set off a long explanatory statement that interrupts the main thought of a sentence. 3) Use a dash to signal a change in thought (or to signal an unfinished thought). 2) Use a dash to emphasize important information that abruptly interrupts a sentence. 1) Use a dash to show a break in speech. Remember: There are FOUR main uses for dashes.