Use of em-dash for interrupted speech when en-dash is style
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I am working on a publication that uses the spaced en-dash – like this – to offset parenthetic content etc (instead of the closed em-dash).
My question is, when faced with interrupted dialogue, do I still use the em-dash? Or should I be using spaced en-dash instead?
"The whole point of—"
"I didn't ask for your opinion." She glared at me.
OR
"The whole point of –"
Thanks in advance for your help.
punctuation dashes dialogue
asked Mar 26 at 0:41
JasmineJasmine
212
add a comment |
0
I am working on a publication that uses the spaced en-dash – like this – to offset parenthetic content etc (instead of the closed em-dash).
My question is, when faced with interrupted dialogue, do I still use the em-dash? Or should I be using spaced en-dash instead?
"The whole point of—"
"I didn't ask for your opinion." She glared at me.
OR
"The whole point of –"
Thanks in advance for your help.
punctuation dashes dialogue
asked Mar 26 at 0:41
JasmineJasmine
212
1
You've indicated that your publication has strict rules on the use of en-dashes. Surely you should ask them what style they require in the circumstances you're suggesting. But what about "The whole point of ...", using "..." to show interruption?
– TrevorD
Mar 26 at 1:08
3
If your style is to use a spaced en dash in all instances when an em dash would otherwise be used, then I think you've already answered your own question. (Although if there is specific guidance for this one area that's different, that's something that only the publication would know. Unless, of course, you know that they follow a particular standard guide; in which case, you can refer to that guide.)
– Jason Bassford
Mar 26 at 5:22
1
I would ask the copy chief or assistant managing editor or managing editor (as the case may be) whether you should use an em dash or a letter-space-separated en dash for the particular purpose you're interested in. I think it would be odd to use "—" for one type of break in continuity and " – " for another, but I'm not in charge of your publication's in-house style guide. There is no standard style for these punctuation marks that is accepted across all style guides.
– Sven Yargs
Mar 26 at 5:49
Thank you very much for your helpful responses. I work in a small publishing house that doesn't really adhere to one particular style guide – there are rough guidelines but it's a bit of a 'feel it out as you go' kind of process. I believe that you've answered my question, though. I wondered whether the em-dash had that particular role separate to its parenthetic (and other) use in-text, but I now understand that they're all forms of interruption regardless, and it would make sense to use en-dash across the board. Thank you!!
– Jasmine
Mar 26 at 21:14
add a comment |
0
0
0
1
I am working on a publication that uses the spaced en-dash – like this – to offset parenthetic content etc (instead of the closed em-dash).
My question is, when faced with interrupted dialogue, do I still use the em-dash? Or should I be using spaced en-dash instead?
"The whole point of—"
"I didn't ask for your opinion." She glared at me.
OR
"The whole point of –"
Thanks in advance for your help.
punctuation dashes dialogue
asked Mar 26 at 0:41
JasmineJasmine
212
I am working on a publication that uses the spaced en-dash – like this – to offset parenthetic content etc (instead of the closed em-dash).
My question is, when faced with interrupted dialogue, do I still use the em-dash? Or should I be using spaced en-dash instead?
"The whole point of—"
"I didn't ask for your opinion." She glared at me.
OR
"The whole point of –"
Thanks in advance for your help.
punctuation dashes dialogue
punctuation dashes dialogue
asked Mar 26 at 0:41
JasmineJasmine
212
asked Mar 26 at 0:41
JasmineJasmine
212
asked Mar 26 at 0:41
JasmineJasmine
212
asked Mar 26 at 0:41
JasmineJasmine
212
asked Mar 26 at 0:41
JasmineJasmine
212
212
1
You've indicated that your publication has strict rules on the use of en-dashes. Surely you should ask them what style they require in the circumstances you're suggesting. But what about "The whole point of ...", using "..." to show interruption?
– TrevorD
Mar 26 at 1:08
3
If your style is to use a spaced en dash in all instances when an em dash would otherwise be used, then I think you've already answered your own question. (Although if there is specific guidance for this one area that's different, that's something that only the publication would know. Unless, of course, you know that they follow a particular standard guide; in which case, you can refer to that guide.)
– Jason Bassford
Mar 26 at 5:22
1
I would ask the copy chief or assistant managing editor or managing editor (as the case may be) whether you should use an em dash or a letter-space-separated en dash for the particular purpose you're interested in. I think it would be odd to use "—" for one type of break in continuity and " – " for another, but I'm not in charge of your publication's in-house style guide. There is no standard style for these punctuation marks that is accepted across all style guides.
– Sven Yargs
Mar 26 at 5:49
Thank you very much for your helpful responses. I work in a small publishing house that doesn't really adhere to one particular style guide – there are rough guidelines but it's a bit of a 'feel it out as you go' kind of process. I believe that you've answered my question, though. I wondered whether the em-dash had that particular role separate to its parenthetic (and other) use in-text, but I now understand that they're all forms of interruption regardless, and it would make sense to use en-dash across the board. Thank you!!
– Jasmine
Mar 26 at 21:14
add a comment |
1
You've indicated that your publication has strict rules on the use of en-dashes. Surely you should ask them what style they require in the circumstances you're suggesting. But what about "The whole point of ...", using "..." to show interruption?
– TrevorD
Mar 26 at 1:08
3
If your style is to use a spaced en dash in all instances when an em dash would otherwise be used, then I think you've already answered your own question. (Although if there is specific guidance for this one area that's different, that's something that only the publication would know. Unless, of course, you know that they follow a particular standard guide; in which case, you can refer to that guide.)
– Jason Bassford
Mar 26 at 5:22
1
I would ask the copy chief or assistant managing editor or managing editor (as the case may be) whether you should use an em dash or a letter-space-separated en dash for the particular purpose you're interested in. I think it would be odd to use "—" for one type of break in continuity and " – " for another, but I'm not in charge of your publication's in-house style guide. There is no standard style for these punctuation marks that is accepted across all style guides.
– Sven Yargs
Mar 26 at 5:49
Thank you very much for your helpful responses. I work in a small publishing house that doesn't really adhere to one particular style guide – there are rough guidelines but it's a bit of a 'feel it out as you go' kind of process. I believe that you've answered my question, though. I wondered whether the em-dash had that particular role separate to its parenthetic (and other) use in-text, but I now understand that they're all forms of interruption regardless, and it would make sense to use en-dash across the board. Thank you!!
– Jasmine
Mar 26 at 21:14
1
1
You've indicated that your publication has strict rules on the use of en-dashes. Surely you should ask them what style they require in the circumstances you're suggesting. But what about "The whole point of ...", using "..." to show interruption?
– TrevorD
Mar 26 at 1:08
You've indicated that your publication has strict rules on the use of en-dashes. Surely you should ask them what style they require in the circumstances you're suggesting. But what about "The whole point of ...", using "..." to show interruption?
– TrevorD
Mar 26 at 1:08
3
3
If your style is to use a spaced en dash in all instances when an em dash would otherwise be used, then I think you've already answered your own question. (Although if there is specific guidance for this one area that's different, that's something that only the publication would know. Unless, of course, you know that they follow a particular standard guide; in which case, you can refer to that guide.)
– Jason Bassford
Mar 26 at 5:22
If your style is to use a spaced en dash in all instances when an em dash would otherwise be used, then I think you've already answered your own question. (Although if there is specific guidance for this one area that's different, that's something that only the publication would know. Unless, of course, you know that they follow a particular standard guide; in which case, you can refer to that guide.)
– Jason Bassford
Mar 26 at 5:22
1
1
I would ask the copy chief or assistant managing editor or managing editor (as the case may be) whether you should use an em dash or a letter-space-separated en dash for the particular purpose you're interested in. I think it would be odd to use "—" for one type of break in continuity and " – " for another, but I'm not in charge of your publication's in-house style guide. There is no standard style for these punctuation marks that is accepted across all style guides.
– Sven Yargs
Mar 26 at 5:49
I would ask the copy chief or assistant managing editor or managing editor (as the case may be) whether you should use an em dash or a letter-space-separated en dash for the particular purpose you're interested in. I think it would be odd to use "—" for one type of break in continuity and " – " for another, but I'm not in charge of your publication's in-house style guide. There is no standard style for these punctuation marks that is accepted across all style guides.
– Sven Yargs
Mar 26 at 5:49
Thank you very much for your helpful responses. I work in a small publishing house that doesn't really adhere to one particular style guide – there are rough guidelines but it's a bit of a 'feel it out as you go' kind of process. I believe that you've answered my question, though. I wondered whether the em-dash had that particular role separate to its parenthetic (and other) use in-text, but I now understand that they're all forms of interruption regardless, and it would make sense to use en-dash across the board. Thank you!!
– Jasmine
Mar 26 at 21:14
Thank you very much for your helpful responses. I work in a small publishing house that doesn't really adhere to one particular style guide – there are rough guidelines but it's a bit of a 'feel it out as you go' kind of process. I believe that you've answered my question, though. I wondered whether the em-dash had that particular role separate to its parenthetic (and other) use in-text, but I now understand that they're all forms of interruption regardless, and it would make sense to use en-dash across the board. Thank you!!
– Jasmine
Mar 26 at 21:14
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1
You've indicated that your publication has strict rules on the use of en-dashes. Surely you should ask them what style they require in the circumstances you're suggesting. But what about "The whole point of ...", using "..." to show interruption?
– TrevorD
Mar 26 at 1:08
3
If your style is to use a spaced en dash in all instances when an em dash would otherwise be used, then I think you've already answered your own question. (Although if there is specific guidance for this one area that's different, that's something that only the publication would know. Unless, of course, you know that they follow a particular standard guide; in which case, you can refer to that guide.)
– Jason Bassford
Mar 26 at 5:22
1
I would ask the copy chief or assistant managing editor or managing editor (as the case may be) whether you should use an em dash or a letter-space-separated en dash for the particular purpose you're interested in. I think it would be odd to use "—" for one type of break in continuity and " – " for another, but I'm not in charge of your publication's in-house style guide. There is no standard style for these punctuation marks that is accepted across all style guides.
– Sven Yargs
Mar 26 at 5:49
Thank you very much for your helpful responses. I work in a small publishing house that doesn't really adhere to one particular style guide – there are rough guidelines but it's a bit of a 'feel it out as you go' kind of process. I believe that you've answered my question, though. I wondered whether the em-dash had that particular role separate to its parenthetic (and other) use in-text, but I now understand that they're all forms of interruption regardless, and it would make sense to use en-dash across the board. Thank you!!
– Jasmine
Mar 26 at 21:14