33. The Dash is used where a sentence breaks off abruptly.
Charles. You must invent some ingenious subterfuge—some—some kind of—
Project. I understand; not a suggestio falsi, but a mild suppressio veri. {p115}
Charles. Oh, is that what you call it? There is a shorter word—
Project. There is; but it is not professional.
I shall divide the subject into fifteen heads, and then I shall argue thus—but, not to give you and myself the spleen, be contented at present with an Indian tale.
34. The dash is used before and after a parenthetic clause, when not closely enough connected to admit the comma.
But it remains—and the thought is not without its comforting significance, however hardly it may bear on individual cases—that no bestowal of bounty, no cultivation of the amenities of life, . . . can wipe out the remembrance of even doubtful loyalty in the day of trial.
OBS. 32. If a parenthetic clause is inserted where a comma is required in the principal sentence, a comma should be placed before each of the dashes inclosing such clause. (See last paragraph on p. 90).
I should like to undertake the Stonyshire side of that estate,—it’s in a dismal condition,—and set improvements on foot.
35. Several clauses having a common dependence, are separated by a comma and a dash from the clause on which they depend.
To think that we have mastered the whole problem of existence; that we have discovered the secret of creation; that we have solved the problem of evil, and abolished mystery from nature and religion and life,—leads naturally to a precipitation of action, a summary dealing with evils, etc. (See Example and Obs. under Rule 7.)
36. The dash is used with the comma, the semicolon, and the colon, which it lengthens, or renders more emphatic. {p116}
We read of “merry England”;—when England was not merry, things were not going well with it. We hear of “the glory of hospitality,” England’s pre-eminent boast,—by the rules of which all tables, from the table of the twenty-shilling freeholder to the table in the baron’s hall and abbey refectory, were open at the dinner-hour to all comers.—Froude.
Matricaria, n. A genus of plants, including the feverfew, or wild camomile;—so called from the supposed value of some species as remedies for certain disorders.—Webster’s Dictionary.
They did it without being at all influenced by the Anabaptists of the continent:—the examples of some of these had rather kept them together.—D’Aubigne.
37. When words are too closely connected to admit a strictly grammatical point, the dash is used to denote a pause.
38. When a word or phrase is repeated emphatically, or echoed, it is preceded by the dash.
The immediate question is upon the rejection of the President’s message. It has been moved to reject it,—to reject it, not after it was considered, but before it was considered!
The world continues to attach a peculiar significance to certain names,—a significance which at once recurs to one on hearing the isolated name unapplied to any individual.
39. An equivalent expression, or an idea repeated in different words, is properly set off by the comma and dash. {p117}
These are detached thoughts,—memoranda for future use.
Wolsey’s return to power was discussed openly as a probability,—a result which Anne Boleyn never ceased to fear.
There are three kinds of power,—wealth, strength, and talent.
The value of our actions will be confirmed and established by those two sure and sateless destroyers of all other things,—Time and Death.
The present time has one advantage over every other,—it is our own.
Those who submit to encroachments to-day are only preparing for themselves greater evils for to-morrow,—humiliation or resistance.
OBS. 33. In a portion of the examples under this rule, the dash appears to supply the place of viz., or namely.
40. A dash placed between two numbers indicates that the natural series between those numbers is understood.
OBS. 34. If a writer refer to “pp. 90, 95,” he means those two pages only; but if he cite “pp. 90–95,” the reference is to pages 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95.—In dates of the same century, the figures denoting the century are omitted in the second number: “He has the Farmer’s Almanac for 1810–70,—sixty-one years.” (It will be observed, that, under this rule, the short or en dash is used.)
The style of the Government Printing Office, Washington, requires an apostrophe to denote the elision of the centuries; as 1889–’90.
41. An Ellipsis of letters is denoted by a dash.
42. When a sentence is abrupted (1) to form a heading, or (2) for a signature, or (3) to admit a {p118} new paragraph, or for other purposes, a dash is used at the break; as:
From the preceding tables we are now able to formulate in concise language the—
1. The number of employees . . . is at least 1,250,000.—Mass. Labor Report.
It is useless for you to dissemble in the presence of—
JOHN SMITH.
The greatest cowards in our regiment were the greatest rascals in it. There was Sergeant Kumber and Ensign—
We’ll talk of them, said my father, another time.—Sterne.