Hyphen and dash: the difference between them. How to put a dash in Word, keyboard shortcuts, secrets

A dash, as a rule, is used in non-union complex sentences to indicate the nature of the semantic connection between its parts. However, there are other cases of using this punctuation mark.

Dash placement is adjustable the following rules Russian grammar:

1. T ire is placed in sentences with a compound nominal predicate, between the subjects and the predicate. In sentences of this kind, the predicate, as a rule, is a generic concept in relation to the subject. For example:

• Tiger is a predator;
• The cow is an artiodactyl;
• Birch is a tree.

Note 1. However, if the subject and predicate have a negative particle “not”, then the dash is not placed.

Note 2. There is no dash between the subject and predicate if they are used in an interrogative sentence and the subject is expressed by a pronoun, for example:

2. E If in a sentence the subject is expressed by a noun, and the predicate indefinite form verb (by an infinitive), or they are both expressed by an infinitive, then a dash is placed between them.

3. T ire is placed before the words “this”, “means”, “this is”, “here”, etc. in sentences where the predicate is expressed by a noun in the nominative case or an infinitive. As a rule, these words serve to connect the predicate to the subject, and also indicate that a comparison or definition will now follow.

4. T ire is placed in sentences with enumerations before the generalizing word.

5. T ire is placed before the appendix at the end of the sentence in two cases:

• If before the application it is possible to put the construction “namely” without distorting the meaning of the sentence, for example: I don't really like this animal - the cat.
• If explanatory words are used in the application, and the author needs to further indicate the independence of this construction, for example: I had a cast iron kettle with me - my only joy in traveling around the Caucasus.

6. T ire is placed between two predicates or between parts complex sentence in the event that the author needs to unexpectedly attach or sharply contrast them in relation to each other.

Note 1. In order to enhance the connotation of surprise, a dash can also be placed after coordinating conjunctions that connect parts of one sentence.

Note 2. Additionally, for an even greater surprise effect, a dash can separate any part of a sentence.

According to the rules of the Russian language, there is no need to put a dash in these sentences. However, it is staged only to better convey the meaning and reflect what actually happened.

7. T ire is placed between the parts of a non-union complex sentence if the second part contains a result or conclusion from what was said in the first.

8. T ire is placed between the parts of a non-union complex sentence if there is a type of connection between them “subordinate part - main part”.

9. T ire is placed to indicate the boundary of decay simple sentence into two word groups. This is done only if it is not possible to isolate this decay by other means.

Very often, such a breakdown is observed when one of the members of the sentence is omitted

10. K In addition, using a dash, the following are distinguished:

• Sentences and words used in the middle of a sentence and serving to explain what is being said, but only if the parentheses can weaken the connection between the insertion and what is being explained;
• A common application if it comes after a qualifying noun and needs to emphasize its own independence;
• Homogeneous members of a sentence, if they are in the middle of the sentence and need special emphasis.

11. T ire can be used as an additional punctuation mark after a comma in sentences where there are two repeated words, and this repetition is needed in order to connect one part of this sentence with another.

12. T ire is placed after a group of subordinate clauses before the main part of a complex sentence in order to emphasize the breakdown into two semantic parts.

13. T ire is placed in paired constructions, meaning any temporal, spatial or quantitative framework, and in this case it is synonymous with a pair of prepositions “from...to”. That is, a dash is placed between two words to indicate spatial, temporal or quantitative limits.

14. T ire is placed between two or more proper names, the totality of which is called a doctrine, scientific institution, etc.

Also, a dash is placed as an additional decimal place to indicate the transition from increase to decrease in the period. The dash is placed as an additional sign after the comma, which separates the main sentence from the group of subordinate clauses preceding it, if it is necessary to emphasize the splitting of a single whole into two parts.

A dash is placed as an additional sign after a comma before a word, which is repeated in order to connect with it a new sentence (usually a subordinate clause, reinforcing, supplementing or developing the main clause) or a further part of the same sentence. A dash is placed to indicate the place where a simple sentence splits into two verbal groups, if this cannot be expressed by other punctuation marks or word order.

A dash is placed between two sentences if they are connected in meaning as a subordinate clause (in first place) with the main clause (in second place), but there are no subordinating conjunctions. A dash is placed between sentences not connected by conjunctions if the second sentence contains a result or conclusion from what is said in the first.

A dash is placed between two sentences and between two homogeneous members of a sentence, connected without the help of conjunctions, to express a sharp contrast. A dash is placed between two predicates and between two independent clauses if the second of them contains an unexpected addition or sharp contrast to the first.

A dash is placed between the subject and the predicate if the subject is expressed in the nominative form of the noun, and the predicate in the indefinite form, or if both of them are expressed in the indefinite form.

The correct use of hyphens and dashes often creates confusion among writers, typesetters, and printers. This question, sooner or later, concerns every person - we write and read, and the incorrect use of these punctuation marks makes the text ugly and distorts the semantic load embedded in it. The answer to the question of what a hyphen and a dash are, the difference in their spelling and the visual difference between the signs will help everyone use the unique Russian language more competently.

Hyphen: em dash

The function of the hyphen is dividing a word into parts. Graphically, this spelling sign is approximately 3 times shorter than a dash.

How to correctly use a hyphen in Russian, voluminous and full of exceptions rules that boil down to to list many special cases:

Other uses of the hyphen:

• Writing parts of words in linguistic texts. For example: prefix at-, ending - ut.
• Identification of important parts or syllables of a word: application.
• In fiction stories, the importance of the word spoken by the hero is indicated: “ Attention, I say again pay attention...».

When is a dash placed in a sentence?

The use of a dash in sentences, just like a hyphen, has its own punctuation rules. Along with the use of a comma in the text, which is often mistakenly placed in the wrong places, The use of a dash has the following features:

Between subject and predicate.	Expression of the present and predicate in the nominative case: Dog - best friend person.
	The subject is in the nominative case, and the predicate is expressed in the indefinite form: Living life is not running across a field.
Before particles or a generalizing word.	Particles This, Here and so on.: Hardness is the best quality of this material.
	Before general words: Thoughtfulness, attentiveness and diligence - best qualities schoolboy.
Designation of quantitative limits.	Time limit: Cook over low heat for 20 - 25 minutes.
	Spatial limit: Flight Moscow - Tula.

The table above describes cases that most common when using a dash in Russian.

This sign is also used:

• After conjunctions, to express surprise: Lay down in bed and instantly fell asleep.
• Between homogeneous members: Who's great - I'm great!
• Notation of direct speech dialogues : “Yes, I agree with you,” said Lenin.

How to put a hyphen in Word?

Almost all users working with the operating system Windows system, used for typing text editors Word or OpenOffice.

Let's look at how to put a hyphen in the text in the first option:

• Hyphen. There is only one symbol on the keyboard, indicating a “dash”. It is located above the letters “Z” and “X”, to the right of the number “0”. Many people do not understand its true meaning and often use this sign as a minus, dash, hyphen, or hyphen. In fact, this symbol, due to its size, stands below the minus and hyphen. How is it usually used? For a dash they put two - three hyphen contract. It’s ugly, but if there is no technical possibility, this will do.
• Non-breaking hyphen. We found out that to denote in the document hyphen use symbol defosominus(-) or, as people say, the minus sign. But there is a simple way that few people know about - using special keys to create a non-breaking hyphen (dash). What do I need to do? Press combination Ctrl+"minus". Please note: the keyboard layout must be set to English language and the minus sign is pressed on the numeric keypad on the right.

How to put a dash in Word?

Anyone who believes that using a dash, a minus and a hyphen can solve all punctuation problems in Word is greatly mistaken. But more on that below. Now let's talk about the dash and how it can be placed in Word.

There are two types of dashes:

1. Em dash - used in Russian typography.
2. En dash - also called “middle”, is used in Western typography.

Likewise, there are three ways (the third is the easiest) to insert a dash into text:

• Inserting a dash using a character bet.

1. Place the cursor in the place where you need to put the dash sign:
2. Select a menu item Tab. In the tab we look for the inscription Symbol.
3. In the window that appears, select the button Other characters, look for the em dash and click Insert.

• Inserting a dash using special key combinations:

1. Em dash. Press the ALT key and type 0151 in the number pad of the Numpad keyboard on the right and release Alt.
2. En dash. Similar to the previous point, type ALT+0150. In both cases, the keyboard layout must be set to English.

• Automatic program insert, enabled by default in all versions:

1. We write a word.
2. Press spacebar.
3. Put a minus sign (em dash)
4. Press spacebar again.
5. We write next words O.
6. We press the key again and after that the dash turns into a hyphen.

Practice: em dash or em dash

What's in practice? The reality is that about 95% of users use the short (Western) version as a dash. This is connected with two features:

1. Appearance. The domestic version seems very long to many and constantly catches the eye.
2. Automatic replacement. Special key combinations are good. But not everyone knows about them, and who knows - the introduction of symbols is long and thankless. On the other hand, after the user enters a hyphen, makes a space and writes the following words: the symbol is automatically replaced with an em dash.

9 types of horizontal lines

Let's consider all the horizontal lines existing in the typography, from the shortest hyphen to the longest - horizontal line.

1. Hyphen. The shortest, used as a hyphen or minus.
2. Hyphen. To divide words into parts.
3. Minus. In mathematical expressions.
4. Digital dash. For example, to record a telephone number.
5. Transfer. Moves a word to the next line.
6. List marker. Used in unnumbered lists.
7. En dash. The standard dash used throughout the world.
8. Em dash. Russian standard dash.
9. Horizontal line. An analogue of the em dash, which is used in the West in dialogues.

Now, when typing complex text or when designing a holiday card, no one should have difficulty using symbols such as hyphens and dashes. The difference is obvious: a hyphen acts as a spelling sign and is placed in the middle of a phrase, a dash is a punctual sign that is placed between words.

Video lesson: how to distinguish a hyphen from a dash?

In this video, Eduard Krasnov will conduct a short educational program to teach you how to distinguish a hyphen from a dash:

Each writer has his own “favorite” punctuation rules. But from experience in preparatory courses and the preparatory department of Moscow State University, the author of this article knows that the use of a dash is one of the most complex and, so to speak, erroneous punctuation rules. This, it seems to us, is connected with the erroneous ideas of most schoolchildren about the optionality of the dash, its almost complete identity with the comma. Having memorized, as a rule, several of the most well stated in school textbooks and rules for those entering universities (for example, a dash between the subject and the predicate, expressed nouns; a dash between parts of a complex sentence), not all schoolchildren are able to generalize in their minds the cases of possible use of a dash in the Russian language. Textbooks rarely offer summary chapters devoted to this issue; the tradition of compiling reference and teaching aids is by groups of rules, and not by signs. Meanwhile, the current “Rules of Russian Spelling and Punctuation” (M.: Uchpedgiz, 1956) offer precisely the first way; in the section “Punctuation” the principles of setting certain punctuation marks, including dashes, are set out (Indicated work, paragraphs 164-179, p. . 98-104).

This article aims to draw attention to most cases of placing a dash in writing (we deliberately do not touch upon those cases that are rarely used by the majority of writers and primarily by schoolchildren), after all sections, exercises will be given to test the material learned.

First of all, it is necessary to remember that there are two different types dash. A single dash is a sign from the group of separators (For more information about separating and emphasizing signs, see: Russian language. Tutorial For in-depth study in high school. Part 2. Morphology. Syntax. Punctuation. / Bagryantseva V.A., Bolycheva E.M., Galaktionova I.V., Zhdanova L.A., Litnevskaya E.I. – M., Moscow State University, 2000, p. 180). Such a dash is used as a sign dividing a sentence into two parts (for example, a dash can be placed between the subject and predicate in a simple sentence or between two parts of a complex sentence), or as a punctuation mark, similar in function to a comma, but introducing an additional semantic connotation to the sentence . In addition, the separating dash in a simple sentence is used for homogeneous members with a generalizing word. Along with this, in the rules related to the isolation of sentence members and introductory words, a paired dash is used as an emphasizing sign, which is in many ways similar to two commas.

Let us consider these groups of rules and determine what difficulties are encountered when applying them. The most common mistakes will be analyzed in detail, and practical tasks will be proposed for these cases.

1. DASH BETWEEN SUBJECT AND PREDICATE

The need to place a dash between the subject and the predicate is associated with the omission of the auxiliary part in the compound types of the predicate. In some cases, the placement of a dash is associated only with the form of the main members; in others, there are additional formal reasons indicating the need to place a dash. The following rules discuss the rules for placing dashes and exceptions to them.

DASH IS PUT:

The subject is expressed by a noun, the predicate is a compound nominal with a zero connective and a nominal part expressed by a noun (that is, both main members are expressed by nouns): Snow White is the main character of the famous children's fairy tale and wonderful cartoon by Walt Disney Studios.(All examples in the article were invented by the author. In cases where the author’s imagination left him, examples from the literature were used. Links will be given to all these cases). Particular attention should be paid to the following cases of priority placement of dashes:

If the sentence has the character of a logical definition - A fairy tale is a genre of folklore in which magical characters act and magical events occur.

If the sentence refers to a book style and contains a characteristic, assessment of the phenomenon - Animation – best achievement 20th century.

In identity sentences (subject and predicate express one concept) - Everyone knows that in any fairy tale stepmother is also an evil witch.

After a group of homogeneous subjects - Grumpy, Kindly, Modest, Quiet - the names of Snow White's closest friends.

With structural parallelism of parts - Love of work is the dignity of Snow White, narcissism is a trait of her stepmother.
To clarify the meaning of the sentence - Her older sister is her best friend. Her older sister is her stepmother's best friend.

Both main members are expressed by infinitives or one is expressed by a noun and the other by an infinitive: For any girl, dreaming about meeting a prince is just torturing herself in vain. To actually meet him is a great happiness.

Before the words this, this is, it means, this means, here. – Looking in the mirror, the stepmother said: “Yes, beauty is a terrible force.”

Both main members are numerals or one is a numeral and the other is a noun: Having counted all the socks lying on the floor and folded them in pairs, Snow White guessed that the number of gnomes was seven.

AS A RULE, A DASH IS PUT:

The subject is expressed by an infinitive, the predicate is a compound nominal with a zero connective and a nominal part expressed by an adverb with the meaning of state, but only if there is a pause between the main members: Snow White understood from childhood that not fulfilling her duties in cleaning the palace was dangerous, because her stepmother checked the cleanliness of the rooms every day.

With the subject, expressed in words THIS, if there is a logical pause after this word - This is the very beginning of the story, and the continuation will come later.(Compare: This is a good start).

ATTENTION!

Depending on the context, the dash may be preceded by a comma in all the cases discussed above. This is possible if there is a separate member of the sentence before the place where the dash is placed or subordinate clause. In this case, the writer puts two unrelated signs: a comma, closing one turn, and a dash, standing between the subject and the predicate.

The most common mistake writers make is not placing a comma before a dash. It is to pay attention to this problem that we propose the task given below.

Task 1. Place punctuation marks. In cases where there is a comma before the dash, explain its placement. (The assignment uses examples from the essays of preparatory course students Faculty of Philology Moscow State University).

1. Evgeny Onegin main character in the novel of the same name by A.S. Pushkin, a nobleman by origin and an “extra” person by character.

2. Vladimir Lensky, who lived for several years in “Foggy Germany,” is a romantic and dreamer, unable to distinguish real life from fictional life.

3. Ilya Ilyich Oblomov, who spent his childhood in an atmosphere of universal love and worship, is a typical gentleman in manners and constantly expects from those around him the same attitude towards himself that he was accustomed to receiving from his relatives in childhood.

4. This poem, written in the genre of a friendly message, is the most striking creation of Pushkin the romantic.

5. Romanticism, which in Russian literature is closely associated with the names of Pushkin and Lermontov, is one of literary trends studying inner world and the psychology of the heroes.

DASH IS USUALLY NOT PUT:

The subject is expressed by a noun, the predicate is a compound nominal with a zero connective and a nominal part expressed by a noun, and at the same time:

The sentence is simple, conversational style : "My father is the king"- Snow White modestly answered the dwarfs’ question.

Between the subject and the predicate there are comparative conjunctions AS, AS FELL, LIKE, EXACTLY, LIKE AS, ALL THE SAME: “Snow White’s eyes are like two bright stars, her skin is like the first snow, her hair is like night,” the mirror dispassionately explained to the enraged queen.

The predicate is preceded by the negation NOT: “The Queen is no longer the first beauty of the kingdom,” the courtiers whispered among themselves.

Between the subject and the predicate there is an introductory word or particle: The king is probably good man, but he became a toy in the hands of an evil and treacherous wife. The walk is just an excuse to take Snow White into the dense forest and abandon her there.

The predicate is preceded by a minor member related to it: "Snow White is our friend!" - the dwarves convinced Grumpy, but he stubbornly refused to come to terms with the presence of a woman in the house.

The word order in the sentence is reversed - the predicate precedes the subject: "Nice fellow, this prince!" - this was the unanimous opinion of the gnomes and forest animals.

Important: in many of the cases listed above, a dash is possible if you need to intonationally emphasize the division of a sentence into two parts or highlight one of the main members.

The subject is expressed by a personal pronoun, the predicate is a compound nominal with a zero connective and a nominal part expressed by a noun: All the inhabitants of the kingdom knew that Snow White was very good girl, she is smart, she is beautiful, she is very kind and attentive.

When logically emphasizing the subject pronoun and highlighting it with intonation: "I am the first beauty of the kingdom"- the queen proudly declared to each new guest.

When contrasting personal pronouns with subjects in identically constructed parts of a sentence: "I am the queen and you are the servant"- said the evil stepmother and ordered her maid to take Snow White into the forest and kill her.

One of the main members is expressed interrogative pronoun, the other - a noun in the nominative case or a personal pronoun : “Tell us, girl, who are you, who are your parents and why did you wander into such a thicket alone?”- the dwarfs asked Snow White in surprise.

The predicate is expressed by an adjective, pronominal adjective or prepositional case form: The forest around Snow White is empty and gloomy, the sun is not visible behind the treetops, and bird voices are not heard.

In this case, you can put a dash:

With the logical division of a sentence into two parts and its intonational division: Snow White's voice is pure, clear, bewitching, so the prince decided to see who was singing so tenderly.

With structural parallelism of parts of a complex sentence: The night is warm, the stars are shining, the moon is round, so Snow White did not feel afraid when she was left alone in the forest.

Task 2. Place the missing punctuation marks in the following passage from a Russian fairy tale and explain your decision.

Not having your own home is terribly disappointing. Loneliness is an even more offensive thing, especially when you like to chat and gossip and have no one to gossip with. All these thoughts ran through the head of the mouse, which sadly walked across the field and looked for a place to sleep. Suddenly the mouse stopped (:,-) “What is that in front?” And this is a teremok. A tower standing in a field and hidden in thickets of wildflowers is an ideal refuge for a lonely small animal. And how handsome he is! The steps are carved, the shutters are painted, the roof is like a tent, the rooms are large, the windows face east. Living in such a place, even if only alone, is already happiness.

The mouse settled down in the little house. And dreaming about a neighbor in the mansion will only upset yourself in vain. Her task is to make the tower even more a cozy home, and then come what may.

But this is just the beginning of the fairy tale. The next day a frog ran past. Boredom is a terrible problem for any animal, and the frog was desperately bored in his swamp, where living means eating, sleeping and croaking. And the frog wanted communication! So she left the swamp and came to the tower and knocked.

"Please tell me who you are and why you came?" - asked a frightened mouse from behind the door. "I'm a frog, but who are you?" - said an equally frightened frog. “I am the owner of this house, a mouse, and the frog seems to be an animal that lives in the water,” the little girl calmed down a little. “Mice are no decree for us frogs,” the frog remarked proudly, and then said (:,-) “I am alone and you are alone, let’s live together!” “A nice animal, the frog,” thought the mouse and let the unexpected neighbor in.

2. DASH IN AN INCOMPLETE SENTENCE.

A sentence is called incomplete "with lexically unexpressed members that are easily restored in meaning from the context"(Russian language: Textbook for in-depth study in high school. Part 2. Morphology. Syntax. Punctuation. / Bagryantseva V.A., Bolycheva E.M., Galaktionova I.V., Zhdanova L.A., Litnevskaya E. .I. - M., Moscow State University, 2000 - P. 132)". Incompleteness is often caused by the omission of the predicate, and this omission is associated either with the name of the predicate earlier in the context, or with the special structure of the sentence when the predicate is not needed (such a sentence is called elliptical It is precisely this omission of the predicate in writing that is indicated by placing a dash.

DASH IS PUT:

If there is a pause in elliptical sentences (instead of a predicate) – It's raining outside the window.

With parallelism of structures - Everything on this side is mine, and on the other side is also mine, and the forest is mine, and beyond the forest is mine.(free presentation famous words Nozdryov).

In sentences of a special structure, based on two nouns (one in the form of the dative case, the other in the form accusative case), clearly divided into two parts – "Idiot! Flowers for the woman, ice cream for the children!"- Papanov’s hero shouts in the film “The Diamond Arm”.
If the incomplete sentence is part of a complex one, and the missing member is easily restored from the context - Some Americans voted for Bush, others for Gore, but in the end it didn't matter.

3. DASH IN A SIMPLE SENTENCE WITH HOMOGENEOUS MEMBERS.

A dash can be used between two homogeneous members of a sentence when contrasting them or when indicating suddenness (in the latter case, the homogeneous members will be predicate verbs): Snow White wanted not to cry - to sob with fear, but she restrained herself and carefully walked through the forest. The Prince saw Snow White and immediately fell in love with her.

A dash is used between two homogeneous members connected by a double conjunction, when the second part of the conjunction is omitted: The Queen not only did not love, she simply hated the beautiful Snow White. It wasn’t that she humiliated the princess - she tormented and scolded her in every possible way.

If there is a generalizing word after a group of homogeneous members of the sentence, a dash is placed before it: On the table, on the windowsill, on the floor, under the beds - things belonging to the gnomes were scattered everywhere.

With the same order of homogeneous members and the generalizing word, there may also be an introductory word before the generalizing word. In this case, before introductory words There is a dash, and after (before the generalizing word) there is a comma: And deer, and squirrels, and hares, and various birds - in a word, all the forest animals came to visit Snow White during the day, when the gnomes went to work.

If the generalizing word comes before a group of homogeneous members, but after the group homogeneous offer does not end, then a dash is placed after this group: All the gnomes: the Kind One, the Quiet One, the Shy One, the Simpleton, and even the Grumpy One - fell in love with Princess Snow White very much and begged her to stay and live with them.

A dash may be placed instead of a colon after a generalizing word before a group of homogeneous members, if the homogeneous members are in the nature of an application or clarification: Everyone loves fairy tales - both adults and children.

ATTENTION!

Depending on the context, the dash may be preceded by a comma in the last three cases. This is possible if there is a separate part of the sentence or subordinate clause before the place where the dash is placed. In this case, the writer puts two unrelated signs: a comma, closing one turn, and a dash, standing between the subject and the predicate.

In addition, for point 4, it is very important to distinguish between cases when a group of homogeneous members after a generalizing word breaks a simple sentence, and cases when we have a complex sentence, the first part of which ends with a group of homogeneous members. In this case, after the end of the specified group there will be a comma (or colon, or semicolon), and if it is necessary to place a dash between the parts, we will additionally have to place a comma. But this will be discussed below, in the section devoted to the dash in a complex sentence, and now we offer training on the groups of rules just discussed.

Task 3. Place the missing punctuation marks in the following passage from a Russian fairy tale and explain your decision.

The mouse and the frog didn’t exactly become friends; they somehow got used to each other during the two days they spent together. They put things in order everywhere: in the rooms and in the courtyard and in the basement of the mansion and decorated the entire mansion with flower arrangements. For two days, the new girlfriends talked about everything about life and about friends and about the most secret and intimate dreams.

On the third day of living together, it’s pouring outside the window. You look out the window and don’t even see cornflowers growing near the tower. Friends are sitting in a warm kitchen and drinking tea. Suddenly there is a knock outside the window. And standing in the yard is not only a bunny, soaked to the skin, somehow shrunk from the cold. The “girls” let him into the little mansion and gave him tea with honey, raspberries, cranberry jam, found by a mouse in the cellar, with everything they could offer to the new guest. “I am the mistress of the little house, a mouse, this is a frog, my neighbor, and who are you?” - asked the mouse. “And I’m a little bunny, let me in! I can not only guard the house and do carpentry and hammer a nail and light a fire in the stove; whatever you say, I’ll do it.” The mouse and the frog were not just happy, they were jumping for joy. So the three of them began to live together.

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In addition, you need to remember that in the case when you need to put a sign between numbers or words reflecting quantitative uncertainty, you should put a hyphen rather than a dash:

She had not left the house for five to seven days.

Add 3-4 teaspoons of anise and dill to the sauce.

Before the generalizing word

The obligatory case when a dash is placed is a sentence in which a generalizing word follows homogeneous members of the sentence. It is preceded by a dash. Currants, gooseberries, raspberries, shadberry - the girl managed to try all the berries this summer. Distant relatives, friends whom he had not seen for a long time, half-forgotten colleagues from

old job

- for some reason they all began to come to mind recently.

Before the application at the end of the sentence

If an application at the absolute end of a sentence needs to be logically highlighted, this is shown in writing with a dash:

When we entered, his cat ran out to meet us - fluffy Aliska.

All the way my son kept telling me about his new acquaintance, Boris Ivanovich.

How I would like to chat with you as a specialist about my favorite business - construction.

Finally, a plan matured and a decision was born - to take the first step and make peace.

A child who hates school has only one option - to use every opportunity to legally skip school.

For inserted structures

Dash marks surround any characters, including those that end with a question mark or exclamation mark. This is actually the case when a dash is placed between sentences.

And these little newborn kittens - I don’t even want to think about it! - live in such conditions.

All good students - how could it be otherwise? - must be passionate about their future profession.

In non-union proposals

In cases where a dash is placed, the non-union sentence contains the following parts that are opposed to each other:

We officially invited him to visit - he didn’t even deign to answer anything.

Give her homework and she will pretend that nothing happened.

In addition, a dash is placed before that part of a non-union sentence, the meaning of which is to express the conclusion, result or consequence of what is said in the previous part of the complex sentence:

Mom came - and all the sorrows, as always, seemed small and were quickly forgotten.

When designing direct speech and dialogue

A dash in a complex sentence is placed, in addition, when forming direct speech, it separates the words of the author from the quotation:

"I have already come! - the daughter shouted cheerfully and, after a pause, asked mysteriously: “Do you know who I saw today?”

When formatting a dialogue, a dash is also placed before each statement:

- Is it really impossible to learn to keep secrets? - Mitya’s father asked sternly.

- I can. “I keep it, I just didn’t know that I had to keep it from you too,” the kid answered lostly.

In addition to this, there are other special cases when a dash is placed in a sentence, but basically all of them are variants or modifications of those listed.

A dash, as a rule, is used in non-union complex sentences to indicate the nature of the semantic connection between its parts. However, there are other cases of using this punctuation mark.

The placement of dashes is governed by the following rules of Russian grammar:

1. A dash is placed in sentences with a compound nominal predicate, between the subjects and the predicate. In sentences of this kind, the predicate, as a rule, is a generic concept in relation to the subject. For example:

• Tiger is a predator;
• The cow is an artiodactyl;
• Birch is a tree;
• My older sister is a teacher;
• My older sister is my teacher.

Note 1. However, if the subject and predicate have a negative particle “not”, then the dash is not placed:

• Poverty is not a vice;
• A goose is not a bird.

Note 2. A dash is not placed between the subject and the predicate if they are used in an interrogative sentence and the subject is expressed by a pronoun, for example:

• Who is your mother?

2. If in a sentence the subject is expressed by a noun , and the predicate is an indefinite form of the verb (infinitive), or they are both expressed by an infinitive, then a dash is placed between them, for example:

• To love you is to fray my nerves;
• The desire of every person is to love and be loved.

3. Dash is placed before words “this”, “means”, “this is”, “here”, etc. in sentences where the predicate is expressed as a noun in the nominative case or infinitive. As a rule, these words serve to connect the predicate to the subject, and also indicate that a comparison or definition will now follow, for example:

• Desire is a person’s need, despite all adversity, to make his life better;
• Romance is walking under the moon and eyes full of admiration;
• Loyalty is the stronghold of true human relationships, trust is the stronghold of a strong family.

4. A dash is placed in sentences with enumerations before the generalizing word. For example:

• Dreams, hopes, beauty - everything will be swallowed up by the inexorable passage of time;
• Neither her tears, nor her pleading eyes, nor her sadness - nothing could make him come back.

5. A dash is placed before the application at the end of the sentence in two cases:

a) If before the application it is possible to put the construction “namely” without distorting the meaning of the sentence, for example:

• I don't really like this animal - the cat.
• In conversation, he demanded one thing - correctness.
• I obey only one person - my father.

b) If explanatory words are used in the application, and the author needs to further indicate the independence of this construction, for example:

• I had a cast iron kettle with me - my only joy in traveling around the Caucasus (Lermontov).

6. A dash is placed between two predicates or between parts of a complex sentence if the author needs to unexpectedly join or sharply contrast them in relation to each other. For example:

• I walked into the room, not expecting to see anyone there, and froze.
• I'd rather go to Petka - and that's all.
• I wanted to travel around the whole world, but I didn’t travel a hundredth part (Griboyedov).
• I wanted to sit down to sew, but the needle pricked my fingers, I wanted to cook porridge - the milk ran away.

Note 1. In order to enhance the connotation of surprise, a dash can also be placed after coordinating conjunctions that connect parts of one sentence. For example:

• Book your vacation and move on to your family.
• I really want to go there and meet them, but I’m afraid (M. Gorky)

Note 2: In addition, for an even greater surprise effect, a dash can separate any part of a sentence, for example:

• And she ate the poor singer to pieces (Krylov).
• And the grandfather threw the ruff into the river.

According to the rules of the Russian language, there is no need to put a dash in these sentences. However, it is staged only to better convey the meaning and reflect what actually happened.

7. A dash is placed between parts of a non-union complex sentence if the second part contains the result or conclusion from what was discussed in the first, for example:

• Praise is tempting - how can you not want it? (Krylov).
• The moon traced a path across the sea - the night lay like a light blanket.

8. A dash is placed between parts of a non-union complex sentence if between them there is a type of connection “subordinate part - main part”:

• Gruzdev called himself get in the body.
• The forest is being cut down and the chips are flying.

9. A dash is placed to indicate the boundary of the division of a simple sentence into two verbal groups. This is done only if it is not possible to isolate this decay by other means. For example:

• So I say: do guys need this?

Very often, such a breakdown is observed when one of the members of a sentence is omitted, for example:

• For good studies, Marinka received a trip to the sea, and Egorka received a new computer.
• I willed it into my fist, my heart out of my chest, and I rushed after him.
• Everything obeys me, but I obey nothing (Pushkin).

10. In addition, using a dash, the following are distinguished:

a) Sentences and words used in the middle of a sentence and serving to explain what is being said, but only if the parentheses can weaken the connection between the insertion and what is being explained, for example:

• There was nothing to do, so I got into his cart.
• Suddenly - lo and behold! oh shame! - the oracle spoke nonsense (Krylov).
• And only once – and even then by accident – ​​did I speak to him.

b) A common application if it comes after the defined noun and needs to emphasize its own independence, for example:

• The senior constable - a gallant elderly Cossack with stripes for long-term service - ordered to “form up” (Sholokhov).
• In front of the doors of the club - wide log house- workers with banners were waiting for the guests (Fedin).

c) Homogeneous members of a sentence, if they are in the middle of a sentence and need special emphasis, for example:

• Usually, from the upper villages - Elanskaya, Vyoshenskaya, Migulinskaya and Kazanskaya - Cossacks were taken into the 11-12th army Cossack regiments and the Atamansky (Sholokhov) Life Guards.
• And again the same picture - lopsided houses, road potholes and dirty puddles- opened up to my gaze.

11. A dash can be used as an additional punctuation mark after a comma in sentences where there are two repeated words , and this repetition is needed in order to connect one part of this sentence with another. For example:

• I knew very well that this was my husband, not some new, unknown person, but a good man - my husband, whom I knew as myself (L. Tolstoy).
• Now, as a judicial investigator, Ivan Ilyich felt that all, without exception, the most important, self-satisfied people, were all in his hands (L. Tolstoy).

12. A dash is placed after a group of subordinate clauses before the main part of a complex sentence in order to emphasize the breakdown into two semantic parts. For example:

• But whether it was worth it or not is not for me to decide.
• Whether Stolz did anything for this, what he did and how he did it, we don’t know (Dobrolyubov).

13. Dash is placed in paired constructions, meaning any time, space or quantitative framework , and in this case it is synonymous with a pair of prepositions “from...to”, for example:

• Flight Novosibirsk - Moscow,
• 1991 – 2001,
• Ten - twelve grams.

14. A dash is placed between two proper names if collectively they name any teaching or discovery:

• Boyle's physical law - Mariotte.