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.