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speech cut off

English translation: The dash is the right way

09:05 Sep 25, 2011
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase: speech cut off
In a book's dialogue, when a person is speaking and is cut off by a second speaker, is there another correct way (another option) for expressing it besides the dash? (By the way, I can't do a proper dash here, but those two hyphens are supposed to be connected to form a long dash.) Thank you bunches!

"Did he go to--"
"No!"
Joyce A
Thailand
Local time: 20:13
Selected answer:The dash is the right way
Explanation:
Yes, it's an em-dash

An ellipsis ... would more mean the person was tailing off rather than being interrupted or breaking off suddenly.
Selected response from:

Liz Dexter (was Broomfield)
United Kingdom
Grading comment
Thank you, Liz!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +9The dash is the right way
Liz Dexter (was Broomfield)


  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +9
The dash is the right way


Explanation:
Yes, it's an em-dash

An ellipsis ... would more mean the person was tailing off rather than being interrupted or breaking off suddenly.

Liz Dexter (was Broomfield)
United Kingdom
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
Thank you, Liz!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jessie LN
12 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  Jenni Lukac (X): Good explanation.
17 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  Charles Davis
46 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  Tony M: And it's Alt + [num]151 for an em-dash ;-)
1 hr
  -> Thank you!
agree  Stephanie Ezrol
2 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Lara Barnett: Agree, but isn't an em dash the longer type that the one in explanation?
8 hrs
  -> Thanks and yes indeed - but it's called an em-dash not an em--dash ...
agree  ClaraVal
10 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Thayenga
19 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Tomy Goh (X)
1 day 2 hrs
  -> Thank you!
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