The world-wide-web and internet publishing have begat new reading styles and page formats resulting in undisciplined often appalling crimes against typography. The fault is not entirely with self-publishers, as the web itself is unfriendly to good typesetting practices. The rules of usage regarding the Em dash and En dash are well established in typography and are easily transferable to the internet.
How the www Affects Typography
- Graphic designers have long been aware of the significance of typography related to the readability and attractiveness of their creations. The selection of font, line length, alignment and utilization of white space are components of typography, which can make or break a design. Unfortunately, much of the choice regarding these factors has been restricted or removed by the very nature of electronic media. For example, intricately designed, beautifully readable Roman typefaces have been the standard for setting textual information. Now, due to limitations of screen resolution and font incompatibility, on personal computers, the carefully crafted thick and thin lines and serif structures of Roman style typefaces are lost. A simple, though unattractive sans-serif default font is more readable on a computer monitor. White space, controlling the positioning of elements, line spacing or leading are important aspects of page design, which are frequently beyond the control of the electronic publisher.
Correct Em dash, En dash and Hyphen Usage
Some of the effective traditions of typography may be implemented by the writer, particularly those regarding punctuation and grammatical style. One example is usage the Em and En dashes.
- The En dash replaces the word "to" in the expression of a range. e.g. Winnipeg to Toronto to New York would be Winnipeg – Toronto – New York. On a playbill dates might be displayed: April 23, 2011 – June 24, 2011.
- The En dash typically has a space before and after.
- An Em dash is a pause in prose much like a comma, semicolon, period or even ellipsis. The Em dash is usually used to represent an interruption or change in thought or speech: The lights were on when he left—or were they?
- The Em dash traditionally is set without a spaces; however may typesetters add a thin space (unbreakable tracking) before and after, because it looks less crowded. In some publications such as magazines or newspapers, which feature condensed typefaces and narrow columns, Em dashes are replaced with spaced Ens. This bending of the rules reduces the likelihood of undesirable line breaks and white spaces in justified copy.
- On a web page, where line lengths are longer and frequently not fully justified, i.e. left aligned, the Em dash is the correct punctuation choice, both aesthetically and by definition.
- A hyphen is used only in hyphenated word like "twenty-five" or "make-up", most of which the writer knows or can look up in a dictionary. A hyphen may also be used as a word break at the end of a line of text. A hyphen or a double hyphen "- -" is an atrocity never to be used instead an En or an Em dash.
Finally, The internet has changed the way we receive information and even the way we read. The hundreds of years of refinement, which have resulted in typographical styles making the reading of a printed page comfortable and enjoyable are often difficult to execute on the internet. Limitations on traditional design, typography, and clarity of images (resolution) make the physical act of reading more challenging. The evolution of typography will continue as new standards and conventions of use are established for the web. However, many of the visually pleasing and effective practices of the past will endure, including the correct application of Em and En dashes.
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