What is the Favorite Punctuation Mark According to Editors?
Have you ever wondered what punctuation mark is considered the best by people who are REALLY into punctuation? Most editors I know (particularly copy editors and proofreaders) are total nerds when it comes to punctuation and love to talk about when, where, and what punctuation to use in any given writing. I know that we nerdy types represent a very small percentage of the population in this regard, but we really do get a kick out of this kind of stuff.
Recently, I had the opportunity to hang out with some of these people (a bunch of other editors—my people!) in a discussion panel about punctuation at a local writer’s conference. Our very entertaining moderator for this panel posed the question to each of us: What is your favorite punctuation mark? Interestingly enough, there was a general consensus among those if us on the panel (aside from the moderator himself who touted the semicolon as his preferred punctuation mark) that the em dash is our absolute favorite. I was thrilled to learn that I was not alone in having a fondness for that particular composition device.
The question for many non-editing individuals is: why the em dash? (And if you are blissfully unaware of what an em dash looks like, there is an example in the previous paragraph—the longer dash between “editors” and “my” which I am also showcasing in this very sentence as well. Yay!) The answer to that question is that an em dash is super versatile, and it packs a bigger punch than some other marks we use in writing. The em dash can function like a comma, a colon, or parenthesis.
Em dashes can set off extra information, such as examples, explanatory or descriptive phrases, or supplemental facts just like a comma or parenthesis. But unlike the comma or parenthesis, I feel like the em dash brings stronger attention to the supplementary information. It makes that information seem more important and critical.
Conversely, an em dash can also act like a colon in a sentence by introducing a clause that explains or expands on something that comes before it. It can highlight lists the follow the main sentence and give further details. Frankly, it is just a really powerful punctuation tool.
It is good to remember not to use the em dash too frequently when you are writing. If it is over-used, then it will lose some of its potency. If the purpose of this mark is emphasis, it should be used in the moments when you really want to grab the attention of the reader.
So there you go. The answer to a question you may never have even asked yourself, but a question that this eggheaded, grammar lover was really happy to have answered. I hope you learn to love the em dash and use it to affect too. 😊