What is the correct usage on the em dash?

JSWolf · 10-12-2007, 06:24 PM

Is the correct usage of the em dash...

1. word—word
2. word— word
3. word — word

One of them is correct and one is not. Which is it? I have seen different usages in different books. I'd like to make books I format at least consistent with the correct usage. Thanks.

Oh, Why Not? · 10-12-2007, 06:28 PM

I've always been taught #1. But I find what I've been taught doesn't mean much these days.

Oh, Why Not? · 10-12-2007, 06:34 PM

Here's what wikipaedia says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Em_dash#Em_dash

jbenny · 10-12-2007, 07:51 PM

I also believe that #1 (no spaces) is the correct usage. I think it also looks better.

JSWolf · 10-12-2007, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbenny

I also believe that #1 (no spaces) is the correct usage. I think it also looks better.

I just asked my wife who used to teach English in the UK and she said #1 word—word is correct.

slayda · 10-12-2007, 09:03 PM

Interestingly enough, only number 3 does not get flagged by MS Word as misspelling. It is also what I find easier to read.

Jadon · 10-12-2007, 09:17 PM

The no-space version also hurts wrapping, since most programs treat “one—two” as a single long word. That's a significant issue, depending on screen size and font size. I always edit the HTML files I'm going to convert to IMP format to change [one][emdash][two] style to [one][space][endash][space][two] format for wrapping reasons.

RWood · 10-12-2007, 09:29 PM

Historically #1 is correct. I favor #3. I also favor only one space after a period at the end of a sentence. (Two if you are using a monospaced font.)

In modern practice #1 and #3 are correct. #2 is correct only when dealing with dates.

Oh, Why Not? · 10-12-2007, 09:29 PM

The Wikipedia article agrees with you on that (two spaces) as an alternative. So, what works . . ..

HarryT · 10-13-2007, 04:02 AM

My understanding is that #1 is the strictly correct version, but personally I prefer the appearance of #3.

DTM · 10-13-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

...I'd like to make books I format at least consistent with the correct usage. Thanks.

If you're interested in consistency in the e-book world, #1 is what is used by Distributed Proofreaders, the primary source of Gutenberg texts, for what it's worth.

akiburis · 10-13-2007, 10:39 AM

For what it's worth, my understanding of current standard usage (at least in the US) is that the parenthetical em dash is set without spaces on either side; for those who dislike the unspaced em dash, the en dash with spaces is the usual alternative.

JSWolf · 10-13-2007, 11:18 AM

But for situations where you don't have hyphenation, #3 is the better solution as #1 can and does make lines have really poor spacing.

HarryT · 10-13-2007, 11:33 AM

But you probably shouldn't use the em-dash if you go for #3, but the shorter en-dash instead.

andym · 10-23-2007, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jadon

The no-space version also hurts wrapping, since most programs treat “one—two” as a single long word. That's a significant issue, depending on screen size and font size. I always edit the HTML files I'm going to convert to IMP format to change [one][emdash][two] style to [one][space][endash][space][two] format for wrapping reasons.

If you use zero width non-joiners you can get the best of both worlds ie:

Code:

&zwnj;&emdash;&zwnj;

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10-12-2007, 06:24 PM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,842 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	What is the correct usage on the em dash? Is the correct usage of the em dash... 1. word—word 2. word— word 3. word — word One of them is correct and one is not. Which is it? I have seen different usages in different books. I'd like to make books I format at least consistent with the correct usage. Thanks.

10-12-2007, 06:28 PM	#2
Oh, Why Not? Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 13065 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Galaxy Note 2; KindleFireHDX	I've always been taught #1. But I find what I've been taught doesn't mean much these days.

10-12-2007, 06:34 PM	#3
Oh, Why Not? Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 13065 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Galaxy Note 2; KindleFireHDX	Here's what wikipaedia says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Em_dash#Em_dash

10-12-2007, 07:51 PM	#4
jbenny Addict Posts: 323 Karma: 358 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Tablet PC and Nokia N800	I also believe that #1 (no spaces) is the correct usage. I think it also looks better.

10-12-2007, 09:03 PM	#6
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	Interestingly enough, only number 3 does not get flagged by MS Word as misspelling. It is also what I find easier to read.

10-12-2007, 09:17 PM	#7
Jadon Hermit Posts: 192 Karma: 9425 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Kindle Keyboard, Kobo Glo	The no-space version also hurts wrapping, since most programs treat “one—two” as a single long word. That's a significant issue, depending on screen size and font size. I always edit the HTML files I'm going to convert to IMP format to change [one][emdash][two] style to [one][space][endash][space][two] format for wrapping reasons.

10-12-2007, 09:29 PM	#8
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	Historically #1 is correct. I favor #3. I also favor only one space after a period at the end of a sentence. (Two if you are using a monospaced font.) In modern practice #1 and #3 are correct. #2 is correct only when dealing with dates.

10-13-2007, 04:02 AM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	My understanding is that #1 is the strictly correct version, but personally I prefer the appearance of #3.

10-13-2007, 10:39 AM	#12
akiburis Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 614 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Device: Sony PRS-505, iLiad Book Edition	For what it's worth, my understanding of current standard usage (at least in the US) is that the parenthetical em dash is set without spaces on either side; for those who dislike the unspaced em dash, the en dash with spaces is the usual alternative.

10-13-2007, 11:18 AM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,842 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	But for situations where you don't have hyphenation, #3 is the better solution as #1 can and does make lines have really poor spacing.

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10-13-2007, 11:33 AM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	But you probably shouldn't use the em-dash if you go for #3, but the shorter en-dash instead.