As a copy editor, one of the most common punctuation mistakes I encounter in STEM writing is the use of a hyphen when an en dash is needed. Do you know how to correctly use the en dash in scientific writing? Read on to learn how and when to use this misunderstood punctuation mark.
What is an en dash?
Can you pick out the en dash from the picture? Here’s a hint: longer than a hyphen, but shorter than the em dash. And not to be confused with the minus sign. Common knowledge says that the en dash is so named because it is the approximate width of “N”. However, the name origin is more complicated. As described by Matthew Butterick in hyphens and dashes, “em and en refer to units of typographic measurement, not to the letters M and N.”
According to the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), the authoritative style guide for writers and editors that I describe here, "Hyphens and the various dashes all have their specific appearance…and uses…. The hyphen, the en dash, and the em dash are the most commonly used. Though the differences can sometimes be subtle—especially in the case of an en dash versus a hyphen—correct use of the different types is a sign of editorial precision and care." In UK English style the en dash with space before and after replaces the em dash, but this use of the en dash won’t be discussed further because it is atypical in US English style. How to us the en dash in science writing?
Recently, when I wanted to reviewing the rules on en dash usage in science writing, I grabbed my copy of the “Best Punctuation Book, Period” by June Casagrande. I love this book. It is very readable and easily searchable. Casagrande has a section for each punctuation mark, which includes a Punctuation Panel’s, made up of professional copy editors in news media and book publishing, preferred usage of the mark. As expected, the chapter on the en dash is quite short. However, I did a double take when I read, “The en dash…applies solely to book style. It does not exist in news, science, or academic style.” WRONG!
The en dash has very specific uses in STEM writing. The en dash is used to
Use in compound adjectives
Both CMOS and the American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style 11th edition prescribe use of the en dash when the compound adjective has an open element or already-hyphenated element. This helps avoid ambiguity.
For example: From CMOS, Chuck Berry–style lyrics (here, the name “Chuck Berry” is a known open unit, but it is a compound adjective with “style”) From the AMA, non–English-language journals Indicates equal weight
When a compound adjective has two components that have equal weight, the en dash is used. The American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Psychological Association both describe this usage, known as the peer en dash. This includes collaborators of scientific findings or joint authorships.
Here are examples.
Numerical ranges
Another use of the en dash is to indicate inclusive numerical ranges (no spaces before or after the en dash). Use it for dates, times, data, and so on.
“The graph shows the mean of the data from multiple biological replicates (n = 3–6).” However, don’t use the en dash when “from” precedes the range—the word “to” is used instead. “Participation in the study was measured from May 2010 to April 2012.” Furthermore, if one of the numbers is negative, then the en dash should not be used. “Over the last week, temperatures were −10 to 23 °F.” Not “−10–23 °F”. Follow your style guide of choice to determine if units need to be repeated within numerical ranges. Of note, the AMA style guide 11th edition uses hyphens for numerical ranges. WEIRD! Chemical Bonds
Perhaps my favorite use of the en dash is in the chemical bond as prescribed by ACS. This is near and dear to my heart as I spent 6+ years working in chemistry and chemical biology. Here the en dash indicates a single covalent sigma bond.
H3C–OH R2C–C(H)=O Notice that the equal sign (same width as the en dash) denotes a double covalent pi bond. Yes to the en dash!
The en dash has specific uses in science, and it’s important for clarity, formality, and professionalism to understand the different uses. Although CMOS recommends using other punctuation instead of the en dash or completely recasting the sentence, I suggest using the en dash without reservation. What do you think?
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Have you ever almost used a semicolon, but abandoned the idea for fear of doing it wrong?
Or do you avoid semicolons because you worry they make your writing seem too stuffy? If so, you aren’t alone. Throughout modern history, semicolons have been one of the most misunderstood and polarizing punctuation marks in existence. For this reason, many writers shy away from using them altogether. There are strong opinions about the semicolon’s use. Some writers and editors believe it makes things too choppy. Others believe a comma and coordinating conjunction do the same job. Still others fear it makes their writing seem elitist. In this post, I’m coming to the defense of the semicolon. Get ready to learn more about what it is, how it is used, and why as an editor I use it often in my work. What is a semicolon?
According to Amy Einsohn’s and Marilyn Schwartz’s authoritative text The Copyeditor’s Handbook, the semicolon can act as a strong comma or a weak period.
How are semicolons used?
Most style manuals agree that the semicolon has three jobs:
1. To join two related independent clauses without using coordinating conjunctions 2. To precede a conjunctive adverb when linking independent clauses 3. To separate complicated items in lists where commas are already used. Semicolons can also be used to delineate items in references, but since reference formatting is not text writing, we won’t give into that here. However, if you’d like to learn more the University of Pittsburg Library system has a fantastic resource. Let’s break down each of those three uses with some examples. Using semicolons to directly join two related independent clauses
An independent clause is a clause that contains a subject and predicate that can stand alone, that is, it’s a complete sentence. Two related independent clauses have a logical connection to each other. With commas, a coordinating conjunction (“and”, “but”, “yet”) is needed to join two independent clauses. The short pause of the comma and the coordinating conjunction confirm that these ideas are related, but the comma may seem too hurried or trivializing. The long pause of a period may separate the ideas too much, thereby undermining some of the logical connection. The semicolon provides a middle ground for the pause—still evidencing the connection but allowing more space.
Using semicolons before conjunctive adverbs when linking independent clauses
Semicolons are also required when conjunctive adverbs (“however”, “therefore”, “indeed”, etc.) are used to combine two independent clauses. Adverbs qualify and describe verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, and even sentences. If one independent clause emphasizes or scrutinizes another independent clause, a conjunctive adverb preceded by a semicolon can be used to show this relationship between the clauses.
For example: “We aimed to create ideal conditions for the desired reaction; however, we still identified by-products in the batch.” Here, “however” emphasizes that we did our best to optimize and understand the reaction conditions. The substitution of “however” with “but” would emphasize the subsequent clause more. Separating items containing commas
If you list a series of items and one or more of the items has a comma, separating those items with commas may confuse your reader. Thus, a semicolon is warranted in this situation to separate the parts of the list.
“I’ve lived in Baltimore, Md; Tampa, Fl; and San Antonio, Tx.” Here a comma is conventionally used between the city and state so a semicolon should be used for clarity. “We optimized the reaction’s reagents; additives, bases to act as hydrogen ion scavengers; duration; and temperature.” I specify the type of additive and its function. But the meaning would be different if commas were used: “We optimized the reaction’s reagents, additives, bases to act as hydrogen ion scavengers, duration, and temperature.” This suggests that additives and bases were needed. Semicolons: Misunderstood and Undervalued
The jobs of a semicolon are straightforward. Still there are many people who find them frivolous or worse:
“If you have to use a semicolon, you didn’t write the sentence well enough,”—Personal communication. “All they do is show you’ve been to college,”—Kurt Vonnegut Jr. “They are more powerful more imposing more pretentious than a comma but they are a comma all the same. They really have within them deeply within them fundamentally within them the comma nature,” —Gertrude Stein. One argument against the semicolon is that a comma or period can do the same thing. Furthermore, because it gives a slightly longer pause than a comma, it may seem too strong or abrupt in some contexts. On the other hand, it is a shorter pause than a period and may seem too weak. In Defense of the Semicolon
,Personally, I think the semicolon has a place in a writer’s toolbox.
First, a semicolon can quickly fix comma splices, where two related—but independent—ideas have been joined with a comma. A semicolon can be swapped for that comma, making the sentence grammatically correct and retaining the intended pause and relationship. Second, and perhaps more importantly, semicolons help vary sentence length. As discussed in The Copyeditor’s Handbook, a writer can control the audience’s attention by varying sentence length. Too many short independent clauses ending in a period can give the writing a choppy feel. This choppiness leads to reader fatigue. In contrast, sentences that are too long can be confusing and unclear, leading to disinterest; therefore, intentional use of the semicolon helps retain the reader’s interest. Semicolon advocate Arthur Plotnik asserts in his book Spunk & Bite, “With a semicolon, there is a split-second of tease. . . . Semicolons inject expectation into sentences, and in literature expectancy is a good thing; it creates subliminal tension followed by release: the quiet ah’ of art.” Here is an example Plotkin’s idea in action. Take this sentence: “It was a dark and gloomy morning, and the houses almost disappeared as I walked past.” Although the sentence is technically correct, it lacks tension. But if we edit it to read as follows, much changes: “It was a dark and gloomy morning; the houses almost disappeared as I walked past.” The semicolon adds tension and begs the question, “where were you going?”. It's Time to Embrace the Semicolon
Whether you are a new writer or a seasoned one, it’s time to embrace the semicolon and use it to strengthen your writing.
Remember, semicolons can 1. provide longer pauses than commas and shorter pauses than periods 2. delineate relationships between related independent clauses 3. separate items in a complex list 4. add tension and interest to the text Did you learn something about semicolons? Please share my post on LinkedIn. |
AuthorSusan is a scientist turned writing service specialist. Her interests include the clear communication of scientific research and complex subjects. Archives
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