A Guide to Editing for Beginners

how-to-improve-your-writing-rules-of-dashes

Recently, this writer’s last blog attempted to explain dashes, then found that there was extensive research on dashes that was quite confusing. Hopefully, this secondary blog will explain the rules of dashes so every writer will understand them better. You will recognize some of the material below, as it should be familiar from the previous blog on this topic. However, this blog has been corrected and clarified for your edification.

There are two main types of dashes used in writing: en dashes and em dashes. They are named as such because an en dash is roughly the size of a typed letter “n” and the em dash is roughly the size of a typed letter “m.” Note that in British English, an en dash with spaces on either side is used instead of an em dash.

Em Dashes

This dash is to show a break in a sentence. It is also used to show an interruption in action, thought or dialogue. On most word processing programs you can type two hyphens and a space, and the program will automatically format it as an em dash.

For example,

“I hope you have told me the truth—you don’t always.” This quote is all one sentence, but there was a break in between the words truth and you that is represented by the em dash.

“Well, you could always resi—”

“Never! I’ll never resign! I’ll go to prison first!”

En Dashes

An en dash is typically used to separate periods of time. A good rule of thumb is to use this dash when you could swap it out with the word “to.” Notice that the en dash “–” is slightly longer than a hyphen “-” and the two are not to be used interchangeably.

For example,

1980–1985

Hopefully, this will clarify any questions you may have. Please remember that the professional editors at Firstediting.com are always here to assist you with your work. We are qualified to edit all types of writing, from fiction submissions to academic editing. Happy writing!

Originally posted 9/13/2010 and happily updated 10/29/2017. Thanks for reading!

Frequently Asked Questions

First Editing is equipped to edit ANY type of document you can write! Over the past 10 years, we’ve perfected tens of thousands of manuscripts, books, ebooks, theses, dissertations, essays, letters, websites, articles, scripts, business proposals, poetry, and more! Let us transform your draft into a perfectly edited masterpiece! Click HERE for a FREE sample edit and price quote…
Projects less than 50 pages are completed in just 2-3 business days. Longer documents (manuscripts, dissertations, etc.) require 7-10 business days depending on their length. If you order multiple documents totaling 50+ pages, they can all still be completed in the standard 3 day timeframe since each document may be assigned to a different editing team simultaneously. Additionally, 1-2 day rush services are also available. See our order form for more details.
Professional editors of successfully published books, journals, articles, and more are working around the clock to ensure your editing is letter-perfect and delivered according to your deadline. Each editor has a minimum of TEN years worth of professional writing & editing experience. Show us some of YOUR writing and we’ll send YOU a FREE editing sample!
First Editing is one of the very few online editing services that GUARANTEES client satisfaction! If there is ANYTHING about our work with which you are not 100% satisfied, we will correct it at no additional charge. First Editing is also the ONLY service of its kind to GUARANTEE on-time completion. We NEVER miss a deadline…EVER!! Read more about our Editing Satisfaction Guarantee.
Our basic rates vary from just 1 U.S. cent per word to just over 3 U.S. cents per word. Most basic copy editing that does not require rush delivery costs between $0.0097 and $0.013 USD per word (approximately one cent per word). Larger orders often cost even less. Factors influencing your total price are document type, length of manuscript, turnaround time required, & level of editing required. For a free, no-obligation price quote, CLICK HERE.

Share With :

GTCoding
Get a free editing sample outlining areas you need to fix before publishing. Discover what works!

Add Your Heading Text Here

Add Your Heading Text Here