Last time, we explored how two em dashes can emphasize information in the middle of a sentence. In this column, well examine how one em dash can emphasize information at the end of the sentence.' As we'll see, whether to use an em dash is often more art than science-a choice guided as much by style as by grammar. But when you need to add a rhetorical punch to the end of your sentence, the em dash is a useful tool to have. A single em dash can function in a couple of different ways. An em dash can act like a colon, introducing an object, list, or example.
Citation
Joe Fore, Hyphens, En Dashes, and Em Dashes (Part III), 73 Virginia Lawyer 54 (December, 2024).