The Right Dash
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- gramme0
Clear as mud. Thanks all for responding.
I guess a good rule of thumb is to use the older—style when that's what the design language communicates, and use the newer – method when a 'newer' look calls for it, or if the typeface is condensed.
- CyBrain0
the NY Times uses em w/no spaces...
... the five+ magazines I've worked for all took that stance too... so I say go with the ol':
...thought—thought.. .
PonyBoy
(Oct 3 06, 14:55)----------------------------
I wish The New York Times was a credible example, but they don't even know not to use an apostrophe for plurals.
They will use the following: G.I.'s CD's, DVD's.
- taragee0
rules are folr fools
- maky0
I think that the em is distracting in some fonts that have a relatively narrow body width or have a light page - personal opinion though if challenged I fall back on elements of
- fresnobob0
In the case of completing thoughts, I believe the typographically correct way is to use the em dash.
So.. anybody heard any good type humor lately?
- horton0
this is all very alarming, i hate the em dash. its ugly.
- acescence0
em dash no space is what chicago manual of style says, which just about every newspaper and university in this country follows, so i'd say that's safe.
- skelly0
gramme, i believe all 3 examples you posted were the correct usage.
but i was also told that en with spaces could be substituted for an em with no spaces. only for sentences though.
as for numbers, dates, etc. it was the way you posted.
- neue75_bold0
each studio abides by different rules based on stylistic preference, there is no single almighty rule...
- gramme0
I've always went the Elements of Style route (using 3 diff. kinds of dashes with no spaces), but I've seen a lot of people lately, like VSA caliber and in my own office, who never use em dashes. Just wondering if it makes a difference...
Where's Typographica when you need him?
- monNom0
I think 'the elements of style' says something like en for splitting numerical data, em for perenthetic statements.
no spaces for either.
that said, do what looks good, or follow a styleguide
- skelly0
i prefer em (no spaces)
this is recent, as i used to prefer en (with spaces)
either is acceptable.
- Witt0
i guess i didn't understand your question.
- gramme0
that's dedication, Randall
- gramme0
TYPE FASTER PEOPLE!
i have juan minute left in the day. I need answers.
- Rand0
for a while I used em dash with spaces, all set to 75% horizontalscaling, but it was too much trouble, so now I'm back to em dash with no spaces
- gramme0
This is how I've done since college:
The right word—the word I'm looking for
January 7–March 9
Zeta-Jones
- Witt0
i was taught that you do like this (no space left/right of something you add to a phrase:
so they -they bla bla- went out.
and space it when it breaks the phrase:
they were both happy - and they left.