The usage of punctuation in writing makes us dubious, especially, when we encounter “dash” in reading newspapers, journals or any other written object. While reading editorial columns in English newspapers such as Daily Star, we often may find sentences using dashes e.g. I talked to Mr. Johnson–my son’s teacher– at the game on Friday. Amateurs like me often find it difficult to figure out what does it mean? Is it hyphen? But it seems not! Before, extracting the answer, we may look at some baffling questions such as ninety-nine,2001–2010, America–Africa—Are all homogeneous or distinct “dashes”? 

For quenching the inquisitiveness, we have to know the trifles of dashes. Hyphen, en-dash, and em-dash are the three major forms of dashes. Having trivial differences, the trinity looks unvaried in bare eyes. Hence, we, the readers, are often confounded by the apposite usage of dashes. So, it’s the high time we had to know the variances among dashes.

Hyphen (-)

It’s mainly used in compound words and split words such as mother-in-law, great-looking woman, vice-president, mid-October etc.

En Dash (–)

The en dash is about the same width as the letter “N” Generally, four kinds of usage have been observed of en dashes:

Range of numbers

 30–35 kids are playing in the garden. 

Period of time

To show a distance

The flight from Africa–Asia is long.

Depicting game scores 

The team won the match 15–13.

Em Dash (—)

It is the longest of three dashes and about the same width as the letter “M”. In editorial columns, it’s quite often visible for its versatile usage. It can be used in the place of comma(,), parentheses(), colon(:) and semi-colon(;)

To show interruption in the place of comma or parentheses

Please call my lawyer—Richard Smith—on Tuesday. This sentence can also be written by:

Please call my lawyer, Richard Smith, on Tuesday. 

                       OR

Please call my lawyer (Richard Smith) on Tuesday.

Use like a colon or semi-colon for emphasis

Mom needs four things at the store—butter, milk, flour and bread.

                      OR

Mom needs four things at the store: butter, milk, flour and bread.

My sister loves chocolate—my brother loves vanilla 

                      OR

My sister loves chocolate; my brother loves vanilla.

Use of em dash to show sudden change of thought

I was going to buy a book—what did you say she wanted for her birthday?

I had a great day at the zoo—hey! Is that a jaguar?

Do not overuse the em dash in formal writing. There should be no spaces before or after an em dash. 

Real life examples

Here, we are going to peruse the things that we have learned previously with the help of newspaper editorials. 

Extra information is added by em dash

The fact that this is not enough which is agreed upon by epidemiologistsis clear given that we have one of the lowest test rates in the region.

An editorial published in daily star titled Covid-19 and the missing data conundrum.

Given our weak infrastructure, the government needs to ramp up efforts to fill the gap while far from perfect and much left to be desired, they’re beginning to get a better handle on the technical side of the issue, that is, increased testing and supplying protective gear.

           OR

Given our weak infrastructure, the government needs to ramp up efforts to fill the gap;while far from perfect and much left to be desired, they’re beginning to get a better handle on the technical side of the issue, that is, increased testing and supplying protective gear.

Sudden change of thought

Reportedly, police arrived on the scene well after the violence had begun and many people had already died which is reminiscent of police action and reaction or lack of it during the 2002 Gujarat riots waiting for the Chief Minster’s instructions as to where to go and where not to.

An editorial published in daily star titled The battle for Indias soul.