The em-dash has a few different uses. We’ve already covered how a pair of em-dashes can be used to highlight parenthetical information. Now it’s time to explain another way you can use em-dashes — to call attention to the information at the end of a sentence.
You can also use a colon to accomplish this, but a dash tends to be a little more dramatic and show stopping. Use an em-dash instead of a colon when you want a high-impact ending to your sentence. For example:
They finally learned the truth — the calls were coming from inside the house.
He had a choice to make — leave now or become the man that everyone wanted him to be.
Style guides don’t agree on whether or not spaces are needed around em dashes, so be sure to consult your school’s or company’s preferred style guide. If you don’t have access to a style guide, you can decide for yourself but remain consistent.
To learn more about punctuation, check out these punctuation mistakes that can make you look like a cannibal.
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