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
In instances such as given in the two preceding rules the en dash may sometimes serve if the em dash appears too conspicuous.
From Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically by Hamilton, Frederick W. (Frederick William)
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.
