1. THE DASH

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

3. 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.

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

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

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

9. 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.

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