Dashes

1. Use dashes to show loosely related/side comments.

E.g. Edward Lee—our politically passionate mayor—is running for office again. He will make a
great mayor—he thinks.

2. Use dashes to indicate breaks in thought, or pauses.

E.g. Will he—can he—win the election without the Hispanic vote?
The reasons—if these walls could talk—are many. 

3. Use dashes to distinguish a list that already uses commas from the rest of the sentence.
E.g. Edward Lee—father, actor, businessman, and mayor—is running for office again.

4. Use a dash when a list begins the sentence. The dash separates the list from its
explanation or a comment about it.
E.g. Food, dry clothes, water and cell phone—everything is packed!

5. Use a dash to distinguish a summarizing comment from the rest of the sentence, and put
emphasis on it.
E.g. His campaign is ready—everything is in place.

6. Use a dash to separate a sentence from a short explanation.

E.g. There was only one thing left to do—leave!

7. Use dashes to indicate dialogue being cut off or interrupted.

E.g. “Mom said I get th—”
“Tell her it’s mine!”

8. Use dashes to attribute a quote to someone.

E.g. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after just as well. 
        —Mark Twain

9. Use dashes to indicate dialogue.

E.g. —Will he run? 
—How could he not.
Note: this indication of dialogue is more commonly used in French.