When to use a dash Dashes (of both the em and en variety) have a totally different purpose than a hyphen. A dash indicates a significant pause or a surprising twist in a sentence.

Grammar rules can be tricky, but the difference in using a hyphen vs. dash is more straightforward than you might think. Read on to learn when—and how—to use each correctly in your writing.

McCarthy isn’t an em dash guy himself—more of a “three words and a period” guy. His prose style resembles an Ernest Hemingway who has still killed himself but managed to keep writing.

When to use a dash A dash (specifically, an em dash) has a totally different purpose. It indicates a significant pause or surprising twist in a sentence.

If you’re not sure what all those dashes are or how to use them, this video clearly explains the differences between the hyphen (-), the en dash (–), and the em dash (—).

Writing coach and CUNY Journalism Press editor Timothy Harper tells us how to properly use ellipses, em dashes, and parentheses.