O dash (-) it is a punctuation mark represented by a horizontal bar whose purpose is to indicate the direct speech or emphasize passages of text.
Use of the dash in direct speech
The dash, as well as the quotation marks, can be used to mark the speech of characters or the change of interlocutor. See the following dialogue, taken from the chronicle “No Sinal” by Ricardo Freire:
“Welcome to Alms' Drive-Thru.
- Like?
“Welcome to Alms' Drive-Thru.
- One minute. I've been here for 20 years and until yesterday this place was a traffic light. Traffic light. Lighthouse. Traffic light.
— It was, but now it's another Alms' Drive-Thru franchise. With a concession from the city hall and everything. Here, look. Part of the income is donated to the Municipal Association of Bi-Rodais.
"Cum?"
— Bi-wheels. People who use wheelchairs. Politically correct, sacumé. Now please ask for the number.
- I did not understand.
"Ask for the number." Can't you see the menu there on the panel next to the traffic lights? On that post over there? Underneath the poster of the candidate for councilor...
"I don't have glasses."
Now look at this example (taken from Dried lives, in Graciliano Ramos) as this punctuation mark is important to distinguish the character's voice from the voice of the storyteller (change of interlocutor):
The juazeiros approached, retreated, disappeared. The older boy began to cry, sat on the floor.
"Come on, damned of the devil!" cried his father.
Read too:Three Myths About Comma Usage You Need to Know
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
Using the dash to emphasize text excerpts
Dashes are also used in some texts replacing the commas to merge parts where you want give emphasis.
Look:
Brazil — one of the most violent countries in the world — it doesn't protect its borders as it should. They are the main ports of entry for heavy weapons into the country. Fueled by them, criminal organizations stand up to the police and turn citizens into hostages.
What is the double indent?
The double indent occurs in two situations:
- Separating speaks of character from excerpts of the narrative. Look:
Augustus said:
- Let's go! — he started the car, barely waited for everyone to get in, and sped off.
- Highlight mid-sentence passages. Look:
Brazil — one of the largest economies in the world —will likely return to the UN famine map.
Read too: Use of the comma before the conjunction "but"
Parenthesis or Dash?
They can have different functions. The dash highlights or emphasizes the information, and the parenthesis indicates that it is ancillary information. This occurs, for example, to indicate acronyms:
The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) indicated an increase in violence in the country.
You parentheses may also bring a curiosity, observation or addendum:
the adjectives (name determinants) act as an adjunct in relation to the noun (core of noun phrases).
by Jairo Beraldo
Portuguese Language Teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
BERALDO, Jairus. "Dash"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/travessao.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
