importantly, it is not entirely appropriate. The aside in this case, for example, belongs in the middle of the sentence. The fact that buffaloes might have roamed "in the Southwest" is an aside to the fact that they roamed "in the Midwest" and thus needs to follow on the heels of that thought. By the end of the sentence we are already onto another thought (the 1800s), and thus we jar the reader by forcing him to go from the notions of geography to time and then back to geography again.
• There is a way, though, to allow the dash to function more like parentheses, and give it the flexibility to offset a clause midsen-tence. It's called the double dash.
Buffaloes roamed freely in the Midwest—some say in the Southwest, too—in the 1800s.
Yes, dashes can come in pairs. In fact, this is where dashes and parentheses share the most similar function: like parentheses, one dash opens a clause while the other dash closes it. As you can see from the above, the effect achieved is nearly identical to the effect achieved by parentheses; indeed, they are virtually interchangeable.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DOUBLE DASH AND PARENTHESES
I say "virtually" because there are some subtle differences between the double dash and parentheses. When you use a pair of dashes, it stops the flow of a sentence in its tracks, while parentheses allow a sentence to flow smoothly. For example:
Clocks made in Switzerland (particularly in Geneva) never break.
Clocks made in Switzerland—particularly in Geneva —never break.
It is the difference between a driver who politely interrupts you to point out a sight along the way and a driver who slams on the brakes.
Slam on the brakes (using dashes) when a point absolutely cannot be missed. Otherwise, like the jolted passenger, the reader will resent you, especially if you do it often, or without reason. It depends on your intention. If you want to subtly and smoothly offer a digression, if you want more streamlined prose, use parentheses. If you want to digress in a more forceful and dramatic way, use a pair of dashes.
There are some minor differences between them as well. A pair of parentheses can be used at the conclusion of a sentence, while a pair of dashes cannot. A pair of parentheses can enclose an independent sentence, while a pair of dashes cannot. And some might say that a parenthetical aside is a bit more formal, particularly those who believe dashes indicate casual writing. Consider:
Small windows let in less sunlight but (assuming it's winter) save you money on your heating bill.
Small windows let in less sunlight but—assuming it's winter-save you money on your heating bill.
In the above you might find the parentheses feel a bit more formal while the dashes a bit more casual, but this is a subtle distinction and can be argued either way.
Barring all of these differences, dashes and parentheses are interchangeable. You might want to alternate them for variety's sake, allowing you one more tool at your disposal.
• Regardless of their many specific functions, dashes and parentheses share one thing in common: they always propel a point into the limelight. These are not quiet punctuation marks, and it is nearly impossible for a clause to be offset by these marks and not shine in a sentence. Consider:
The Christmas tree business, and it is a business, is a multibillion-dollar one.
In this sentence, "and it is a business" doesn't really stand out as much as it could. But if we offset it with a pair of dashes:
The Christmas tree business—and it is a business —is a multi-billion-dollar one.
Now it is the very point of the sentence. The dash is especially powerful in this regard. In fact, if your intention is to make something stand out, dashes will be preferable to parentheses. Parentheses, in fact, tend to subdue an aside, to make it quieter; but nonetheless, the fact that it is an aside will always make it stand out to some degree.
Consider the opening sentence of E. M.
• There is a way, though, to allow the dash to function more like parentheses, and give it the flexibility to offset a clause midsen-tence. It's called the double dash.
Buffaloes roamed freely in the Midwest—some say in the Southwest, too—in the 1800s.
Yes, dashes can come in pairs. In fact, this is where dashes and parentheses share the most similar function: like parentheses, one dash opens a clause while the other dash closes it. As you can see from the above, the effect achieved is nearly identical to the effect achieved by parentheses; indeed, they are virtually interchangeable.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DOUBLE DASH AND PARENTHESES
I say "virtually" because there are some subtle differences between the double dash and parentheses. When you use a pair of dashes, it stops the flow of a sentence in its tracks, while parentheses allow a sentence to flow smoothly. For example:
Clocks made in Switzerland (particularly in Geneva) never break.
Clocks made in Switzerland—particularly in Geneva —never break.
It is the difference between a driver who politely interrupts you to point out a sight along the way and a driver who slams on the brakes.
Slam on the brakes (using dashes) when a point absolutely cannot be missed. Otherwise, like the jolted passenger, the reader will resent you, especially if you do it often, or without reason. It depends on your intention. If you want to subtly and smoothly offer a digression, if you want more streamlined prose, use parentheses. If you want to digress in a more forceful and dramatic way, use a pair of dashes.
There are some minor differences between them as well. A pair of parentheses can be used at the conclusion of a sentence, while a pair of dashes cannot. A pair of parentheses can enclose an independent sentence, while a pair of dashes cannot. And some might say that a parenthetical aside is a bit more formal, particularly those who believe dashes indicate casual writing. Consider:
Small windows let in less sunlight but (assuming it's winter) save you money on your heating bill.
Small windows let in less sunlight but—assuming it's winter-save you money on your heating bill.
In the above you might find the parentheses feel a bit more formal while the dashes a bit more casual, but this is a subtle distinction and can be argued either way.
Barring all of these differences, dashes and parentheses are interchangeable. You might want to alternate them for variety's sake, allowing you one more tool at your disposal.
• Regardless of their many specific functions, dashes and parentheses share one thing in common: they always propel a point into the limelight. These are not quiet punctuation marks, and it is nearly impossible for a clause to be offset by these marks and not shine in a sentence. Consider:
The Christmas tree business, and it is a business, is a multibillion-dollar one.
In this sentence, "and it is a business" doesn't really stand out as much as it could. But if we offset it with a pair of dashes:
The Christmas tree business—and it is a business —is a multi-billion-dollar one.
Now it is the very point of the sentence. The dash is especially powerful in this regard. In fact, if your intention is to make something stand out, dashes will be preferable to parentheses. Parentheses, in fact, tend to subdue an aside, to make it quieter; but nonetheless, the fact that it is an aside will always make it stand out to some degree.
Consider the opening sentence of E. M.
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