Comments on: The en dash and em dash or How two goldfish came into — and quickly exited — my pre-wedding life http://www.bloodywellwrite.com/2009/04/16/the-en-dash-and-em-dash-or-how-two-goldfish-came-into-%e2%80%94-and-quickly-exited-%e2%80%94-my-pre-wedding-life/ language + usage Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:48:32 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: bloodywellwrite http://www.bloodywellwrite.com/2009/04/16/the-en-dash-and-em-dash-or-how-two-goldfish-came-into-%e2%80%94-and-quickly-exited-%e2%80%94-my-pre-wedding-life/comment-page-1/#comment-122 bloodywellwrite Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:13:30 +0000 http://bloodywellwrite.com/?p=323#comment-122 Love love love the "fish in the sea" response! And thanks for the kind words — this blog is fun to write and I'm glad that others find my weird sense of humor interesting. Love love love the “fish in the sea” response! And thanks for the kind words — this blog is fun to write and I’m glad that others find my weird sense of humor interesting.

]]> By: Cecile http://www.bloodywellwrite.com/2009/04/16/the-en-dash-and-em-dash-or-how-two-goldfish-came-into-%e2%80%94-and-quickly-exited-%e2%80%94-my-pre-wedding-life/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Cecile Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:44:29 +0000 http://bloodywellwrite.com/?p=323#comment-121 I really liked your commentary and explanation here. I had my own adventure with a goldfish named Mark McGrath (lead singer for Sugar Ray). I also thought that tap water was fine, go figure. I think I actually drowned him. I, too, had to flush Mark McGrath down the toilet. It was a sad occasion and I was in complete shock. My daughter came home and wailed, "You killed Mark McGrath! How could you?" All I could tell her was that there so many more fish in the sea!" Anyway, thanks for your explanation on hyphens, en dashes and em dashes. I love all three and think it makes sense to have different uses for them. —C I really liked your commentary and explanation here.

I had my own adventure with a goldfish named Mark McGrath (lead singer for Sugar Ray). I also thought that tap water was fine, go figure. I think I actually drowned him. I, too, had to flush Mark McGrath down the toilet. It was a sad occasion and I was in complete shock. My daughter came home and wailed, “You killed Mark McGrath! How could you?” All I could tell her was that there so many more fish in the sea!”

Anyway, thanks for your explanation on hyphens, en dashes and em dashes. I love all three and think it makes sense to have different uses for them.

—C

]]> By: Jon Westcot http://www.bloodywellwrite.com/2009/04/16/the-en-dash-and-em-dash-or-how-two-goldfish-came-into-%e2%80%94-and-quickly-exited-%e2%80%94-my-pre-wedding-life/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Jon Westcot Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:15:05 +0000 http://bloodywellwrite.com/?p=323#comment-117 JJ, let me guess -- you also prefer "creative" spelling... as long as the writer tried, it's correct enough. Right? WRONG! These formatting rules are there for a reason. They have meaning and purpose. Now, granted, the visual differences between an en-dash and a hyphen are slight, but they do exist. We should not be homogenizing writing standards that have been around since before movable type was invented. Instead, we should be teaching these rules and encouraging their use in all writing. Moreover, teachers at all grade levels should be grading students' writings not merely on effort but on content, grammar, spelling, and proper punctuation and formatting. There are times when I weep for the future of education in general and of writing in particular.... JJ, let me guess — you also prefer “creative” spelling… as long as the writer tried, it’s correct enough. Right?

WRONG! These formatting rules are there for a reason. They have meaning and purpose. Now, granted, the visual differences between an en-dash and a hyphen are slight, but they do exist. We should not be homogenizing writing standards that have been around since before movable type was invented. Instead, we should be teaching these rules and encouraging their use in all writing. Moreover, teachers at all grade levels should be grading students’ writings not merely on effort but on content, grammar, spelling, and proper punctuation and formatting.

There are times when I weep for the future of education in general and of writing in particular….

]]> By: JJ Townsley http://www.bloodywellwrite.com/2009/04/16/the-en-dash-and-em-dash-or-how-two-goldfish-came-into-%e2%80%94-and-quickly-exited-%e2%80%94-my-pre-wedding-life/comment-page-1/#comment-118 JJ Townsley Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:03:03 +0000 http://bloodywellwrite.com/?p=323#comment-118 I still vote that we simplify things and combine the emdash, endash, hyphen, all into one functional character, with all the same rules. I see no point in having one line thats few pixels longer than another for only certain purposes! I still vote that we simplify things and combine the emdash, endash, hyphen, all into one functional character, with all the same rules. I see no point in having one line thats few pixels longer than another for only certain purposes!

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