[Python-Dev] Dash (original) (raw)

Ben Finney ben+python at benfinney.id.au
Fri Jul 19 21:32:38 CEST 2013

Serhiy Storchaka <storchaka at gmail.com> writes:

I'm asking only about this case, when the dash is used to denote a break in a sentence or to set off parenthetical statements.

That's two separate cases:

In my experience, an em dash is commonly used for the former, and en dashes commonly used for the latter. Using the same dash for both is unusual (and IMO needlessly ambiguous to the reader).

Currently Python documentation uses fourth variants:

All your examples are only for parenthetical statements. Can you find examples of the former, where a break (not parenthetical) in the sentence is intended?

-- \ “When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. | `\ Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole | o_) one and asked Him to forgive me.” —Emo Philips | Ben Finney

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