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The em dash can be used twice when a second speaker interrupts the first, and the first speaker then continues. This may happen when another character talks over the first, thereby cutting the dialog, or if an external factor causes the speech to be silenced. Cut Off SpeechĪn em dash should be used to show dialog that is choked or abruptly cut off. However, there is no other clear way to represent cut off speech. To my mind, the deployment of the em dash gives more of a following on flow and so I often prefer it. The choice to use the em dash parenthetically or in place of a colon is-to a large extent-a matter of taste.
#How to get an em dash on keyboard windows
If you’re just here to get an em dash on your Windows keyboard, jump to the section Why This Way.
#How to get an em dash on keyboard how to
For Windows computers there’s a quick and easy way to add this key.īefore I get to how to implement an em dash key, let’s look at when an em dash may be used.
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Subscribe to get more articles like this oneĭid you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, join our email list.A standard computer keyboard does not have an em dash key. The Alt keyboard shortcuts will work in multiple programs but the other shortcuts will work only in Microsoft Word. If this doesn't work, press NumLock on the numeric keypad. To insert an en dash, click where you want to insert the en dash and then press and hold Alt and then type 8211 on the numeric keypad. To insert an em dash, click where you want to insert the em dash and then press and hold Alt and then type 8212 on the numeric keypad. You can also use the Alt key in combination with a sequence of numbers of insert an em dash or en dash. Inserting an em or en dash using Alt and keyboard shortcuts To insert an en dash using AutoFormat as you type:Ĥ.
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