The Dash in Morse Code and the Dash on a Page
A dash is a quick run, a punctuation mark and a small quantity. One short word covers all three.
To dash is to run quickly or to strike something violently; a dash is also a punctuation mark and a small added quantity. English uses three different dashes on the page and most people notice only one: the hyphen joins words, the en dash spans ranges, and the em dash breaks a sentence open. They are three characters of increasing length, named after the width of the letters N and M in old type. The verb is imitative, from the 1300s, of something struck sharply.
- To run quickly. *Dash to the door.*
- A punctuation mark. *An em dash.*
- A small quantity. *A dash of salt.*
- To smash. *Dashed against the rocks.*
- Imitative. *From the 1300s.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | dash | Dashing. |
| Noun | dash | A dash. |
| Plural | dashes | Dashes. |
| Adjective | dashing | Dashing. |
| Compound | dashboard | A dashboard. |
- She dashed for the train.Running.
- Add a dash of vinegar.Cooking.
- Hopes were dashed.Figurative.
Three dashes on a page
- Hyphen — the shortest, joining words: well-known
- En dash — the width of an N, for ranges: pages 20–30
- Em dash — the width of an M, for a break in thought
- The names come from the width of those letters in metal type
- Morse code uses dash for the long signal, against the short dot
Middle English, imitative of a sharp blow, probably of Scandinavian origin.
What is the difference between a hyphen and a dash?
A hyphen joins words. An en dash spans ranges, and an em dash marks a break in a sentence. They differ in length and job.
Why is a car's dashboard called that?
It was originally a board on a carriage that stopped mud being dashed up by the horse's hooves.