Guidelines for Using Dashes: Spaces and No Spaces

Introduction

The proper use of dashes in English writing is crucial for clarity and readability. This article provides a comprehensive guide on when to use spaces around dashes and when to avoid them, focusing on em dashes, en dashes, and hyphens. By understanding the nuances, writers can effectively enhance their text, ensuring it is both clear and visually appealing.

Welcome to the World of Dashes

A dash is a punctuation mark used to create a break in the flow of a sentence, often to introduce additional information or to separate clauses. Dashes come in various forms, including the em dash, en dash, and the hyphen.

Em Dashes: Spaces or No Spaces?

For em dashes, the standard practice is to use spaces on either side. This is especially true for running text, where clarity is essential. The inclusion of spaces around an em dash helps to visually distinguish it from the surrounding text, making the sentence structure more apparent to the reader.

Imagine the sentence: 'He finally took a break—from work—to visit the store.' Here, with spaces around the em dash, it is clear that the dash separates 'work' from the rest of the sentence, indicating a break in the flow of the thought.

En Dashes: A Potentially Space-Dependent Dash

En dashes have a more variable usage depending on the region and style guide. In American English, it is common to use en dashes without spaces, particularly when the dash is used to connect ranges, such as dates, scores, or numbers. For example, '1976–1984' or '3:00–4:00 pm'

However, in British English, it is often preferred to include spaces around en dashes. This practice mirrors the use of em dashes. In both cases, the spaces enhance readability, especially in longer texts.

Hyphens: The Simplest yet Important Mark

Hyphens are the simplest of dashes and are used to join words together, such as 'well-known' or 'co-founder.' They are also used in compound modifiers (e.g., 'a well-known figure' or 'co-founder of'). The key with hyphens is that they are generally not followed by spaces on either side, except in specific typographical rules or when indicating a range in certain contexts, like in '2–3 hours.'

Note that in some typewriting or early publishing practices, two hyphens with a space before and after each could be used to indicate a dash. However, modern typographic standards recommend using a single hyphen without spaces.

Character Variations: Em Rule and En Rule

It is important not to confuse the dash with the em rule and en rule, which are other types of punctuation marks with specific uses:

Em Rule: Used as a dash, should not have spaces on either side. For example, '1976em1984'. En Rule: Half the width of an em rule. Used to indicate a range. For example, '1976–1984' with no spaces.

In the context of newspaper columns, where space is at a premium, some publishers may use the en rule with spaces on either side for a dash. This is common in single-column layouts for narrow text areas. However, for most other contexts, the en rule is used without spaces.

Moving Forward: More on Minus Signs and Nut Dots

For those interested in further details, this article will cover the use of minus signs and nut dots, also known as decimal points. Understanding these can enhance your use of numbers and symbols in text.

Conclusion

The proper use of dashes is a key aspect of clear, professional writing. By following the guidelines for em dashes, en dashes, and hyphens, you can ensure that your text is easily readable and understandable to your intended audience.

Keywords

em dash, en dash, hyphen