Just to clear up a small query.

Lccorp2 · Feb 13, 2008

Sorry to bother you, but I have a question.

When someone is cut off in speech, is a hyphen or em dash used?

For example:

Bob shrugged. "I wanted to-"

"No, I don't want to hear any more from you," Jake said.

Is the bit highlighted red a hyphen or em dash?

Flay · Feb 13, 2008

It should be an em dash: —. Hyphens are used to join words, or to separate syllables.

Those of us who started out on typewriters may still be in the habit of using two hyphens (--), which typesetters would replace with a dash.

Lccorp2 · Feb 13, 2008

....oh CRUD. This will not make a good impression on the submissions editor.

Well, thank you very much.

Just to clear up a small query.

Lccorp2

How are you gentlemen?

Flay

Lccorp2

How are you gentlemen?