Watt the Pad ?!

3b. Dashes outside Dialogue

If you haven't read 3a. Dashes in Dialogue, I suggest you take a look at that chapter first. The same caveats in this chapter applies: some publishers will use the en-dash (–) where others use the em-dash (—), and vice-versa.

This chapter only provides examples where dashes are used, and for what purposes.

So let's get on with it.

In the previous section we discussed how dashes are used for interruptions in dialogue. But when an interruption occurs outside a dialogue (i.e. the dialogue is not actually interrupted, but something occurs outside the dialogue that needs to be described or included in the narrative), the em-dash (—) is used outside the quotation marks, as per the example below:

                     
          "She didn't. The inquisitors sent me. They had a big campaign and broke up all our branch of the organization. My mum got caught. She's in prison now, for helping witches. But"—Estelle's soft brown eyes looked earnestly into Nan's face—"please don't say. I couldn't bear anyone else to know. You're the only one I've ever told."

Example 1.1
Diana Wynne Jones, Witch Week

                            

                                   
This basically suggests that Estelle continues speaking, while the narrator butts in to explain her facial expression.

Please note that if you use the en-dash (–) instead of the em-dash (—) for the above purpose, it is generally separated by space: "... She's in prison now, for helping witches. But" – Estelle's soft brown eyes looked earnestly into Nan's face – "please don't say ..."

                          

~ ★ ~ 

The above is not the only potential use for em-dashes (—) outside of dialogue. Em-dashes can also be used to interrupt the narrator itself, such as in the following example:

                            
          Things did disappear like that in dreams, he knew, but the evidence pointed, all the same, to his having dropped it as he sat down. Was it possible he had left it lying on the grass beside the fountain? In which case—

          Abdullah stood stock-still in the centre of the booth, staring into the rays of sunlight which, oddly enough, no longer seemed full of squalid motes of dust and old incense. Instead, they were pure golden slices of heaven itself.

Example 2.1
Diana Wynne Jones, Castle in the Air

                                                          
~ ★ ~

Notice the difference in the use of en-dashes (–), which are more generally used to separate phrases or independent clauses in a sentence rather than to mark an interruption. This could be to add an afterthought or side remark, a conclusion or description, for emphasis, and other such purposes.

Keep in mind that  the phrase separated/connected by the dash must be an independent clause; i.e. able to stand on its own.

                     
          It took Abdullah much time to get rid of these people – and on several occasions he did actually buy a painting or drawing, if the subject was a man. Which of course kept people coming.

Example 3.1
Diana Wynne Jones, Castle in the Air

                                            
                                                    
          They were throwing orange blossom from the tower-tops, and the people of Sheba had been covered with it like snow. All along the streets they waited – townsfolk and men of the hill-tribes alike – waiting patiently for their queen.

Example 3.2
Jonathan Stroud, The Ring of Solomon

                                                 
                                
          I spoke with false heartiness over my shoulder. 'No need to worry, Faquarl! We dealt with the bandits well today – even Khaba must see that!'

Example 3.3 
Jonathan Stroud, The Ring of Solomon