em dash
Americannoun
noun
Compare meaning
How does em-dash compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Because I, a professional writer, love—love—love—an em dash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025
Along with the now-infamous em dash, many are renouncing words for which ChatGPT is known to have a mysterious penchant, such as delve, nestled, boast, and meticulous.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2025
The em dash is already quite accustomed to controversy, with a long history of charming and bedeviling authors, journalists and academics.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2025
She also mentioned a more urgent priority, that her “birthdate be followed in the biographical index by an em dash, and then a blank space.”
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 25, 2022
Use an em dash after a man's name when placed at the beginning in reports of interviews, speeches, dialogues, etc.:
From Newspaper Reporting and Correspondence A Manual for Reporters, Correspondents, and Students of Newspaper Writing by Grant Milnor Hyde
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
