noun

Dashes are a punctuation mark that is used to separate words or phrases to emphasize or set apart additional information within a sentence. There are two types of dashes: the en dash (-), which is slightly longer than a hyphen, and the em dash (—), which is longer than the en dash and is typically used to indicate a more significant break in thought or structure within a sentence.

Example

1. I have three favorite colors — blue, green, and purple — that I like to wear on rotation.
2. After much consideration, I have decided to pursue a career in medicine — with a focus on pediatric care — to help improve the lives of young patients.
3. The weather outside is frightful — it's been raining nonstop for two days now — and I'm feeling the need to cozy up indoors with a good book.