Asked by: Angie Haynes

How do you use dashes in prose?

Use dashes to mark the beginning and end of a series, which might otherwise get confused, with the rest of the sentence: Example: The three female characters—the wife, the nun, and the jockey—are the incarnation of excellence. Dashes are also used to mark the interruption of a sentence in dialogue: Example: “Help!

What can I use instead of a dash in writing?

Dashes can be replaced by several other punctuations including commas, colons and brackets.

What do dashes symbolize in writing?

A dash is a horizontal line that shows a pause or break in meaning, or that represents missing words or letters. Note that dashes are rather informal and should be used carefully in writing. Dashes are often used informally instead of commas, colons and brackets.

How do you interrupt a dash in a sentence?

Use an em dash (the longer dash symbol) to indicate an interruption or an abrupt change in thought or to insert supplemental information. If the interruption or insertion comes in the middle of a sentence, add a closing dash to signal the end of the interruption.

What does ‘/’ mean in English?

forward slash

countable noun. A forward slash is the sloping line ‘/’ that separates letters, words, or numbers.

How do you use a dash in academic writing?

Here’s the short version:

1. Hyphens are punctuation marks used to link multiple words.
2. Use a hyphen to join words together to avoid ambiguity.
3. Use a hyphen when two or more words act as a single adjective before a noun.
4. Hyphenate spelled-out numbers between 21 and 99 (twenty-one, ninety-nine).

Why do writers use hyphens?

Hyphens’ main purpose is to glue words together. They notify the reader that two or more elements in a sentence are linked. Although there are rules and customs governing hyphens, there are also situations when writers must decide whether to add them for clarity.

Should em dash be used in formal writing?

It is often used in place of colons or semicolons. It is also common to use a pair of em dashes to replace parentheses or a pair of commas. Using the em dash (or a pair of em dashes) to replace other marks is not always appropriate. In formal writing, avoid using dashes unless they are really necessary.

Can semicolon replace em dash?

Em Dash: An em dash is the width of an m. Use an em dash sparingly in formal writing. In informal writing, em dashes may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought.

How do you indicate an interruption in dialogue?

To show an interruption of the spoken words, include an em dash inside the quotation marks, at the point where the dialogue is interrupted. “I knew you’d drop it.”
Related posts:

1. Even More Punctuation in Dialogue—A Reader’s Question.
2. Punctuation in Dialogue.
3. Dialogue—The Speech of Fiction.

How do you write an interrupted dialogue?

To Indicate Interrupted Dialogue, Use An Em-Dash

To create interrupted dialogue that everyone will recognize as such, use an em-dash where you want to end the dialogue. You create an em-dash by typing two hyphens, and most word processing programs will tie them automatically into the longer dash.

How do you write interrupted thoughts?

Mini Lesson: Punctuating Interrupted Dialogue

1. Use a speech verb with a modifier. …
2. Use an em dash inside the quotation marks to cut off the character mid-dialogue, usually with either (A) another character speaking or (B) an external action.

How do you handle interruptions during storytelling?

5 Tips for Kids Interrupting While You Read

1. Set expectations beforehand. …
2. If they interrupt, give them a quick reminder and go back to reading. …
3. Choose a signal. …
4. Give them a chance to look through the book before you read it together. …
5. Give them an overview of the story.

How would you deal with interruptions during a speech or presentation?

Acknowledge the interruption

The audience often takes the lead from you. If you allow the interruption to distract you then the audience will be distracted too. The best approach to take is to acknowledge the interruption and then continue with the presentation.

How do you handle interruptions in a meeting?

Listen and respond decisively.

When a peer interrupts you, think about why they’re interrupting you in the first place. Consider their objective. If it’s to change the topic or get you to stop talking, you want to make direct eye contact with the interrupter and say, “Mike, I’m going to finish my point.

How do you stop an interrupter?

But, these five tips should at least help you cope with that chronic interrupter.
And, no, they don’t involve screaming in frustration—although, that’s a surefire way to get someone to stop talking.

1. Let it Go. …
2. Set Expectations Immediately. …
3. Just Keep Going. …
4. Ask Questions. …
5. Address it Head-on.

How do you interrupt the interrupter?

Here are some simple strategies.

1. 1 Pre-empt the interrupter. Of course, you can ask the person who interrupted to allow you to finish what you were saying. …
2. 2 Hold a constructive private conversation. If the interruptions continue, speak to the person in private. …
3. 3 Enlist the group.

How do I stop getting interrupted?

How to stop people interrupting

1. Don’t pause. When you pause, even to take breath, you are giving other people the opportunity to interrupt. …
2. Don’t send signals. …
3. Ignore signals. …
4. Don’t look. …
5. Speed up. …
6. Get louder. …
7. Signal power. …
8. Can I finish?

What is a chronic interrupter?

“A chronic interrupter is often someone who is super-smart and whose brain is working much faster than the other people in the room. They want to keep everything moving at a faster clip, so often they will interrupt to make that happen,” says executive coach Beth Banks Cohn.

How do you stop a monopolizing conversation?

How to stop letting people monopolize conversation

1. Stop feigning interest when people monopolize conversation. Your well-honed people pleasing skills trap you in the listening seat to over talkers. …
2. Speak up when people monopolize conversation. …
3. Interrupt them. …
4. Excuse yourself. …
5. Tell them.

How do you deal with a Hogger conversation?

Are You a Conversation Hog? 8 Tips to Better Conversations

1. Begin conversations with a cordial question. …
2. Converse in equal time slots. …
3. Listen. …
4. Make sure people are interested in what you have to say. …
5. After asking a question, care about the answer. …
6. Recap conversations. …
7. Respect people’s time. …
8. Show appreciation.

What is a Monopolizer?

Definitions of monopolizer. someone who monopolizes the means of producing or selling something. synonyms: monopoliser, monopolist. type of: selfish person. a person who is unusually selfish.