Semicolon Versus Em-Dash: Which Should You Use?

Semicolons are the most controversial punctuation in English grammar. Some love the correctness of a semicolon; the 19th century was full of semicolon lovers. Herman Melville uses one semicolon for about every 52 words in Moby Dick. Every. 52. Words.

But, overall, the semicolon’s usage has declined steadily over the last century. Many acclaimed 20th-century authors have outright rejected the semicolon. George Orwell didn't like them. Kurt Vonnegut jokingly claimed that the first rule in creative writing is "do not use semicolons."

Why is there so much hatred for one little punctuation mark? It might all come down to aesthetics. Writer Donald Barthelme suggests semicolons are "ugly, ugly as a tick on a dog's belly."

If we accept that symmetry is a mark of beauty, the asymmetry of the semicolon makes it Frankenstein's Monster of punctuation. A semicolon looks like the love child of a colon and a comma.

The semicolon has its defenders. Grammarian and self-proclaimed "reformed grammar fetishist," Cecelia Watson has written an entire book about this ungainly love-child of a colon and a comma, aptly calledSemicolon. But, even she understands that "the semicolon is a place where our anxieties and our aspirations about language, class, and education are concentrated so that in this small mark, big ideas are distilled down to a few winking drops of ink."

According to Watson, the battle for the semicolon comes down to grammar snobs who'd like the world to adhere to black-and-white rules and lawless populists who don't want to be hemmed in by dusty grammar books that no one reads. Vonnegut agreed; he claimed that semicolons only exist to "show you've been to college."

In the meantime, a contender has risen as an alternative to all intra-sentence punctuation—the em-dash. There are no hard and fast rules with the em-dash. It can be a comma, a semicolon, or a colon—if you want it to be. Its only goal is to draw attention to whatever comes behind it in the most dramatic way possible.

The em-dash isn’t new—the 19th-century poet Emily Dickinson loved them—but in the last century, it seems to have become the fresh way to avoid all the musty, dusty marks of centuries old. This is a sleek, sexy, and definitive mark, but can it replace the semicolon?

What is a Semicolon?

The semicolon has been called the most feared punctuation mark on earth. If you google “how to use a semicolon,” you will receive about 12 million search results. Why? Because no one can remember when to use one. Unlike commas, colons, and periods, the semicolon doesn’t have an intuitive use. It exists halfway between every other piece of punctuation. In many uses, a semicolon can often be replaced with a period or a comma. For the record, let’s go over the basics of when to use a semicolon.

When to Use a SemiColon

A semicolon is defined as a punctuation mark that has three main uses in writing:

Use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses that each contain a subject and a verb (each clause could be a complete sentence on its own)
Use a semicolon when one or both of the main clauses also contain commas
Use a semicolon if a transitional phrase (however, for example, eventually) joins up your two main clauses
See Also
Use a Pair of Em-dashes to Mark Off an Abrupt Break in a Sentence or One to Emphasize the Text at the End The Complete Guide to Dashes En Dash vs. Em Dash vs. Hyphen - How to Properly Use Them What Is An Em Dash And How Do You Use It?
Don'tuse a semicolon if a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or nor) joins your two main clauses

What is The Em-DAsh?

The em-dash is the most versatile—and the most abrupt—punctuation mark a writer can use. The em-dash, also called the long dash or long hyphen, is a form of punctuation writers can use instead of commas, parentheses, colons, and semicolons.

You probably won’t find much more information than that if you google it. The em-dash exists in the Wild West of grammar—the only rule is that you shouldn’t overuse it. If you overdo it, your writing will look like Morse code.

When to use An Em-Dash or Hyphen

An em-dash is defined as a punctuation mark that is longer than both an en-dash and a hyphen. It is named after the letter "m" because its width is approximately equal to the width of the letter "m" in the given font. The em-dash is typically used to:

Draw attention to specific information
Create dramatic pauses
Add a strong emphasis
Use creates a long pause in dialogue
IDK, do what you want

When Should You Use an Em-Dash OR a Semicolon?

The difference between an em-dash and a semicolon is the length and purpose of the pause it creates. An em-dash isolates the idea that follows; a semicolon combines two ideas into one.

The best way to determine if you can use an em-dash or a semicolon is to try them out in your sentence, then read it aloud. Listen for the beats and determine which conveys your point the best. In our grammar battle, let’s try em-dashes and semicolons in three different sentences.

Okay, so we've got our two contenders: semicolon versus em-dash. Here are three sentences done two ways. Let's fight!

ROUND ONE

THE EM-DASH

Here is the em-dash revision. The two halves of the sentence are distinct while still being connected. Jane was tired of correcting the students’ grammar—the students were tired of her.

Winner: The Semicolon

For me, the em-dash is almost too large, too abrupt for this sentence. You lose the connection between the two clauses.

THE SEMICOLON

This sentence is more connected than the previous example. The subject of both clauses is the same person, which lessens the need for stronger punctuation. Emily experienced the medicine’s side effects; she was dizzy and nauseous for hours.

THE EM-DASH

In this sentence, the em-dash highlights the second clause (she was dizzy and nauseous for hours) by setting it apart. Emily experienced the medicine’s side effects—she was dizzy and nauseous for hours.

Winner: Em-dash

This pair of sentences does a good job of showing the benefits of an em-dash. It can isolate a main point, in this case, the physical reaction Emily had to the medicine.

ROUND THREE

THE SEMICOLON

This example shows how to use semicolons within a list with commas. The parties in the custody case were Nate, the child; Terry Smith, the biological father; and Greg and Hanna Johnson, the adoptive parents.

THE EM-DASH

Here’s the em-dash example with three dashes in one sentence. The parties involved in the custody case were Nate—the child, Terry Smith—the biological father; and Greg and Hanna Johnson—the adoptive parents.

Winner: Semicolon

This is a clear case where the semicolon wins. Three em-dashes in one sentence are too disruptive and distracting.

4 More Examples of Semicolon Versus Em-Dash

Both the semicolon and the em-dash are useful instruments in the writer's toolbox. Good writers should know when and how to use both of them.

In general, let the story and your characters dictate the punctuation. A novel about a punctilious and pedantic school teacher shouldn't have a ton of em-dashes.

On the other hand, the em-dash adds a strong emphasis to a sentence. Writers must be careful to use it sparingly. More than two or three in a paragraph has the same effect as typing in all caps.Dialogue is a great place to add in a few em-dashes. Real conversations often have long pauses and sudden starts; em-dashes emulate that effect very well.