How do you use parenthetical dashes?
Dashes are used inside parentheses, and vice versa, to indicate parenthetical material within parenthetical material. The second dash is omitted if it would immediately precede the closing parenthesis; a closing parenthesis is never omitted.
What are some examples of dashes?
Examples: You are the friend, the only friend, who offered to help me. You are the friend—the only friend—who offered to help me. I pay the bills; she has all the fun.
What are the 4 uses of dashes?
Dashes
- To set off material for emphasis. Think of dashes as the opposite of parentheses.
- To indicate sentence introductions or conclusions.
- To mark “bonus phrases.” Phrases that add information or clarify but are not necessary to the meaning of a sentence are ordinarily set off with commas.
- To break up dialogue.
What are the 3 ways we can use dashes in your writing?
It’s longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. Dashes are used to separate groups of words, not to separate parts of words like a hyphen does. (learn more about the difference between a dash and a hyphen here). There are three forms of dashes: em, en, and the double hyphen.
What is parenthetical expression and examples?
All cats (and some dogs) like fish. A parenthetical expression is a word or words added to a sentence without changing the meaning or grammar of the original sentence. Parenthetical expressions give extra information but are not essential.
Should I use parentheses or commas?
Commas and parentheses are often used together, but they serve separate purposes within a sentence. Thus, commas should be used with parentheses only if the sentence would require a comma without the parentheses. The example below illustrates this point: Peter cleaned his room before going out to play basketball.
Why are dashes used in sentences?
Use dashes to set off an idea or an appositive within a sentence. A dash (—) is a punctuation mark used to set off an idea within a sentence and may be used alone or in pairs. Dashes interrupt a thought in a more dramatic way than a phrase enclosed in commas, but less theatrically than parentheses.
What does 3 dashes mean?
In mathematics, the triple bar is sometimes used as a symbol of identity or an equivalence relation (although not the only one; other common choices include ~ and ≈). Particularly, in geometry, it may be used either to show that two figures are congruent or that they are identical.
What is a parenthetical sentence?
In essence, a parenthetical is just a phrase that is not essential to the rest of the sentence. However, just because it isn’t essential does not mean that it isn’t important. When used correctly, a parenthetical can add crucial new information to a sentence without disrupting the flow.
What is parenthetical punctuation?
Parenthetical punctuation is used in pairs to offset additional information in a sentence. Parenthetical punctuation includes the following punctuation marks: commas, dashes, and parentheses (called “round brackets” in the UK). The additional information offset by parenthetical punctuation is called a parenthesis.