The em dash (—) adds emphasis, clarity, or a dramatic pause to writing and is my favourite punctuation mark—favourite punctuation mark; WTF! Is there a thing? Anyhow, unlike commas, colons, or parentheses, which often have specific rules, the em dash is more flexible. It can replace nearly any other punctuation mark when extra emphasis or a break in thought is needed. It’s the wild card of punctuation. It’s perfect for when you need a pause with a bit more drama or can’t decide where the sentence is going—now, how am I going to finish this…
In Four Sentences
- The em dash adds emphasis, clarity, or drama to writing.
- It’s more flexible than commas, colons, or parentheses.
- It acts as a wild card and is great for dramatic pauses or uncertain thoughts.
- Ideal when you need a bit of flair or need help with how to end a sentence.