Regarding hypen and em-dashes.
I have encountered the same problem.
However, lately, I have noticed in some books there are no em-dashes, instead there are hypens with spaces before and after the hypen.
If I use Harry_T's example:
Their eyes met, and something—something unspoken but cogent—passed between them.
it is perfectly fine if you edit it like that:
Their eyes met, and something - something unspoken but cogent - passed between them.
Just don't replace em-dashes with hypen without spaces on either side of the hypen.
I am reading a hardback edition of a book right now and that's what I have in the book. No em-dashes at all.
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