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I must point out before explaining my situation that I'm an English learner. However, for this question I need the help of an expert; that's why I'm asking here and not in ELL.

When writing an informal letter, I sometimes tend to use the em rule as follows:

Here I present an idea — but this is an opposite one, though. (1)

Here comes another idea — and something (closely or loosely) related. (2)

Examples of both constructions:

(1): "I hope I will overcome my father's death — it won't be easy, though."

(2): "I've found a purse — it must be Kathy's."

Is this practice correct at all? I ask because I was told it isn't: that the em rule is only used for marking dialogues (in a novel, for example).

As a side note, I've done some research indicating that em rules are used for strong interruptions: see this for instance. I suppose the provided examples fulfill this condition (if not, I'd be grateful to know why).

Thank you in advance!

KillingTime
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logo_writer
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    Do you mean "em dash" rules? – Catija Jun 29 '16 at 22:31
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    If it's an informal letter, there are no rules for dashes. Use the dashes or don't. Your call. – Catija Jun 29 '16 at 22:32
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    @Catija Well, I used "em rule" because that's what I found as the British English equivalent for "em dash". – logo_writer Jun 29 '16 at 22:34
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    So, you're saying that in BrE "rule" = "dash"? If so, then that's fine... I've never heard that but I'm American, so that's why I asked. – Catija Jun 29 '16 at 22:36
  • There is a comprehensive list of uses for the em-dash at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dash. Uses vary by region. The em-dash can be used to mark dialog, but that is a regional usage and not a universal rule. – MetaEd Jun 29 '16 at 22:37
  • There are quite a few places to use the em dash. Here is a list from the Chicago Manual of Style. http://english.stackexchange.com/a/324955/3306. You may find it fruitful to search this site for "em dash." – rajah9 Jun 29 '16 at 22:44
  • a rule is generically a rectangle of ink on a typed page, and a dash is a type of rule used for punctuation. Anyways, I agree with @Catija . The whole point of an informal letter is that you get to write it however you want. –  Jun 29 '16 at 22:54
  • Correct or incorrect, rarely used in modern writing I would say. – AthomSfere Jun 29 '16 at 23:01
  • Quite interesting so far! Thanks for all your thoughts. I've checked the Chicago link @rajah9 provided, and it seems my examples fulfill the accepted uses. – logo_writer Jun 29 '16 at 23:11
  • A rule is the technically correct typographic category for the various kinds of "lines" used in text. A fine point and worthy of Trivial Pursuit games. – Stan Jun 29 '16 at 23:55
  • I'm so old ... when I write an informal letter, I stick to ASCII only. There is only - no other dashes at all. I do not use fancy typesetting in an "informal letter". – GEdgar Jun 30 '16 at 00:04
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    Typographically, the longer em-dash—generally without any space between it and preceding or following characters—is more common in the US; in other locales, the shorter en-dash – usually surrounded by spaces – is used in identical situations. Feel free to use whichever you prefer in informal writing. Whether to use a dash is entirely a matter of personal preference and style—I myself quite like it. I do try to vary my use, however; a semicolon is a good substitute when a more formal, less breezy style is called for (and a parenthetical can convey a cozier aside). – 1006a Jun 30 '16 at 02:37
  • Note that none of your examples has an interruption. – deadrat Jun 30 '16 at 05:46
  • @GEdgar I often use -- as an en-dash when restricted to ascii. The few letters I write are written in LaTeX which actually uses this as shorthand for the real dash. – Chris H Aug 13 '16 at 07:25

1 Answers1

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In an informal letter, you have great deal of leeway as to what punctuation you may reasonably use. In part this is because multiple approaches to punctuation can accomplish the same thing, and in part it's because the whole point (so to speak) of punctuation is to make the sense of what you are trying to say clearer.

Let's take the two examples you bring up midway through your question:

(1) "I hope I will overcome my father's death — it won't be easy, though."

(2): "I've found a purse — it must be Kathy's."

In both sentences, what you call the em-rule serves to separate one semiautonomous idea from another—and I think it does a good job of it. But you have other options as well. For example, you might use a period in place of the em-rule:

(1) "I hope I will overcome my father's death. It won't be easy, though."

(2): "I've found a purse. It must be Kathy's."

This will give each thought maximum separation within a single paragraph. Or you can use a semicolon:

(1) "I hope I will overcome my father's death; it won't be easy, though."

(2): "I've found a purse; it must be Kathy's."

This brings the ideas closer together, with only a partial break between them. Or you could use parentheses:

(1) (1) "I hope I will overcome my father's death (it won't be easy, though)."

(2): "I've found a purse (it must be Kathy's)."

This makes the second idea seem more like an afterthought. Or you could recast the sentences slightly and use a comma in place of the em-rule:

(1) "I hope I will overcome my father's death, though it won't be easy."

(2): "I've found a purse, which must be Kathy's."

This brings the two ideas into significantly greater intimacy, as a sort of compound thought.

The punctuation you use is up to you. None of the examples above is wrong, though people may disagree about which ones are preferable and though different choices may signify different things to different people.

And finally, the notion that em-rules should be reserved exclusively for marking dialogue appears to have no authority behind it.

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Sven Yargs
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