Notes on dash

Notes on Dash

Dash- (an informal mark of punctuation used for stylistic effects.

Uses:

1)   Set off a word or group of words introduced unexpectedly.

Example- that looks like smoke coming from the- help! Fire!

2)   Abrupt breaking off on one thought into another, or discovery of an unexpected thought or idea.

Ex: When you see Ann- here she comes- acts as if nothing has happened.

You drink Bawels- you do, don’t you- you’ll love Spike; It has 33,333% of daily B12.

Powerhouse is not a show-off like the Harlem boys, not crazy- he’s in a trance; he’s a person of joy.

3)   Use a dash to separate two identical or almost identical words.

Ex: I can do the job- the job of gangstering the Brady Bunch

Dole and Nixon- These men where his idols.

4)   Use a dash before a list that explains in detail some word or phrase in the first part of the sentence.

Ex: Bring some romantic item- among other things roses, champagne, and candles.

5)   Many authors use the dash as a method of pause when a character is speaking.

Example: “Oh, he got her the job, did he?- We’’, I’m going to fix it so she won’t need any job.”

6)   James Joyce uses the dash instead of quotations.

--O, Mr. D’Arcy, cried Mary Jane, it’s downright mean of you to break off like that when we were all in raptures listening to you.