Dashes and Double Dashes

Remember that a dash looks like

this—and not like this-

Using a dash

• Indicates change, a sudden break, or

a dramatic pause in a sentence.

• Ex: I’m heading to Colorado for

Christmas—not Florida or some other

warm place that never sees snow.

Using a dash

• Sometimes it sets off an introductory

series form the clause that explains

it.

• Snow, pine trees, and mittens—that’s

what winter break is all about.

Double dashes

• Use these when you want to set information

apart from the rest of the sentence such as

extra information that clarifies or explains

(and that could be taken out). Think of

them like commas or parentheses, except a

little more dramatic or stronger, and yet

also, a bit more of a casual style.

Examples of double dashes

• Over winter break I plan to spend lots of

time reading—not grading—by the

fireplace.

• Yet I will have to do some grading—mostly

College Writing digital stories—or I’ll be way

behind when we return.