Dash It All! A Writer’s Guide to Em-Dashes, En-Dashes, and Manuscript Dashes

From the Productive Indie Fiction Writer:

Ah, the dash. That versatile little line that writers love to use—sometimes too much.

Recently, I was asked to assess an ebook prepped for sale. There were many formatting errors in the book, most of them arising because the author, a long-time trad published writer, was making the transition to indie. They knew standard formatting for manuscripts backwards, but the transition to an ebook had tripped them up in myriad small ways. Including the use of hyphens and dashes.

Not all dashes are created equal, and if you’re preparing a manuscript for publication, it’s important to know your en-dashes from your em-dashes, and why the dash you use in your manuscript may not be the one that shows up in your final book.

In this post, we’ll break down the difference between en-dashes, em-dashes, and the humble hyphen. We’ll also cover how dashes should be formatted in a manuscript vs. how they appear in a laid-out book. And because we’re all guilty of the occasional dash abuse, we’ll review some common mistakes and the correct way to use dashes in dialogue.

So buckle up—let’s dash it all!

Part 1: En-Dashes, Em-Dashes, and Hyphens—What’s the Difference?

First things first, let’s clarify what we’re dealing with:

• Hyphen (-): The shortest of the lot. Used to connect compound words (e.g., “well-known” or “high-risk”) and to break words at the end of a line.
• En-Dash (–): Slightly longer than a hyphen. Typically used to show a range of numbers (e.g., “pages 10–15”) or to indicate a connection between two things, such as a time span (“the 1990–2000 era”).
• Em-Dash (—): The longest dash. This is the dash most writers love, because it’s dramatic, versatile, and works as a stand-in for commas, colons, or parentheses. It can also be used to show interruptions in dialogue or sudden breaks in thought.

Think of the en-dash as the calm, practical dash, and the em-dash as its bolder, more flamboyant sibling.

Part 2: Manuscript Dashes vs. Published Dashes

If you’re submitting a manuscript to an editor or publisher, you’ll likely be typing out a double dash (–) to represent an em-dash. This is because the em-dash isn’t easy to type on most keyboards.

Here’s the key difference:

In Manuscripts:

• Use — (double hyphen) for em-dashes.
• Use a regular hyphen (-) where appropriate.
• En-dashes are generally unnecessary in manuscripts unless you’re being fancy.

In Final Laid-Out Books:

• The double dash (–) will be replaced by a proper em-dash (—).
• En-dashes will be used correctly where needed.

Pro Tip: When typing a manuscript, don’t sweat en-dashes. Focus on using the double dash (–) where you’d use an em-dash, and your editor or formatter will handle the conversion in the final layout.

Part 3: Common Uses of the Em-Dash (and Mistakes to Avoid)

The em-dash is a writer’s best friend when it comes to creating rhythm, drama, and flow. But it’s easy to overuse or misuse it.

Here’s how to use it correctly:

Correct Uses of Em-Dashes

1. To Set Off an Interruption in a Sentence:
   “I was going to the store—until I saw the weather.”
   Here, the em-dash replaces a comma or parentheses for a more dramatic effect.
2. To Show an Abrupt Change in Thought:
   “She loved the beach—no, she adored it.”
3. To Emphasize a Conclusion:
   “There’s only one thing I hate more than spiders—snakes.”
4. In Place of Missing Words:
   “I swear, if you say one more thing about—”

Common Mistakes with Em-Dashes

• Mistake 1: Using Spaces Around Em-Dashes
  Incorrect: “I love chocolate — especially dark chocolate.”
  Correct: “I love chocolate—especially dark chocolate.”
  There should be no spaces before or after an em-dash.
• Mistake 2: Using Too Many Em-Dashes in One Sentence
  Incorrect: “She was tall—well, taller than most—and her hair—oh, that hair—shone like gold.”
  Correct: “She was tall—taller than most—and her hair shone like gold.”
  Em-dashes are great, but moderation is key.

Part 4: Using Em-Dashes in Dialogue

One of the trickiest aspects of using em-dashes is knowing how they work in dialogue. Here’s a quick guide to get it right.

Interruptions in Dialogue

An em-dash is used when a character is cut off mid-sentence by another character or an external event.

Example:

“I was just about to—”
“No, you weren’t!”

Notice how there’s no period after the em-dash, and the quotation mark comes right after the dash.

Breaking Off a Thought

An em-dash is also used when a character trails off, leaving a thought unfinished.

Example:

“I don’t know if I should—” He shook his head. “Forget it.”

Again, no period after the em-dash. The next sentence picks up with the new speaker or action.

An ellipsis (…) can also be used for trailing off dialogue and is often the more common way to do so. The difference? The em-dash gives the impression of a more sudden or abrupt break, while the ellipsis suggests a slower, more thoughtful pause.

Example with an ellipsis:

“I don’t know if I should…” He shook his head. “Forget it.”

Which one you choose depends on the tone you’re going for. If your character is hesitating or uncertain, an ellipsis may be the better choice. If they’re cutting themselves off abruptly, go with the em-dash.

Internal Interruptions

If the same character interrupts themselves, the em-dash is inside the same set of quotation marks.

Example:

“I don’t think we should—wait, what was that sound?”

Part 5: What About En-Dashes?

The en-dash is less glamorous, but still important. Here’s when you’ll need it:

1. To Indicate a Range:
   “The years 2020–2025 were challenging.”
2. To Connect Complex Terms:
   “The London–Paris train route is efficient.”

Manuscript Tip: In a manuscript, you don’t need to worry much about en-dashes. Focus on hyphens and double dashes (–) for em-dashes, and let your formatter handle the rest.

Part 6: Quick Recap for Manuscripts

Final Thoughts: Dash It All!

When used correctly, dashes can make your writing feel more natural and dynamic. The em-dash, in particular, is a powerful tool for creating rhythm and emotion in your sentences. But remember—use it sparingly. Like exclamation marks, too many em-dashes can make your prose feel chaotic.

And when it comes to manuscripts, don’t overcomplicate things. Use a double dash (–) for em-dashes, a regular hyphen for hyphens, and let your formatter handle the rest.

Now go forth, writer—and dash it all!

Tracy Cooper-Posey

SRP Author and owner of The Productive Indie Fiction Writer

Tracy is one of Stories Rule Press’ most prolific authors. She also hangs out at The Productive Indie Fiction Writer, where she writes about issues facing today’s indie author, and solutions that make the indie life a little easier.