How and When to Use Dashes in Writing

Khan Academy

In this engaging grammar tutorial, Khan Academy educators David and Paige explore the versatile world of dashes. The video clearly distinguishes the dash from the hyphen and outlines its four primary functions in English writing: marking interruptions in sentence structure, acting as parenthetical pairs, serving as a substitute for a colon to introduce ideas, and indicating abrupt interruptions in speech. through handwritten examples and conversational dialogue, the hosts demonstrate how dashes can change the "flavor" or pacing of a sentence compared to other punctuation marks. Key themes include the nuance of punctuation, sentence structure, and the stylistic choices writers make. The video introduces the concept of the dash as a dramatic "actor" that can perform the roles of commas, parentheses, and colons, but with a more emphatic or abrupt tone. It also touches briefly on formatting conventions, such as spacing rules according to style guides like the Chicago Manual of Style. This video is highly valuable for English Language Arts classrooms as it moves beyond basic punctuation rules to discuss style and voice. It provides clear, concrete examples that help students understand not just *how* to use a dash, but *why* they might choose it over other options to create specific effects like suspense, emphasis, or naturalistic dialogue. It is an excellent resource for refining student writing and encouraging more complex sentence structures.