1. Dashes and Double Dashes Remember that a dash looks like this— and not like this-

2. Using a dash Indicates change, a sudden break, or a dramatic pause in a sentence. Ex: I’m heading to Colorado for Christmas— not Florida or some other warm place that never sees snow.

3. Using a dash Sometimes it sets off an introductory series form the clause that explains it. Snow, pine trees, and mittens—that’s what winter break is all about.

4. Double dashes Use these when you want to set information apart from the rest of the sentence such as extra information that clarifies or explains (and that could be taken out). Think of them like commas or parentheses, except a little more dramatic or stronger, and yet also, a bit more of a casual style.

5. Examples of double dashes Over winter break I plan to spend lots of time reading—not grading—by the fireplace. Yet I will have to do some grading—mostly College Writing digital stories—or I’ll be way behind when we return.