The dash is the toughest of the three pieces of punctuation we've discussed, and why? Because it is the most versatile. There are very few rules to help you with this one. In fact, I've only got three.
Use them in dialogue when people get interrupted. "Hey, what are you—"
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Don't use more than either one dash or one set of dashes in a paragraph, and as always use them sparingly.
Use them to break up longer sentences that have asides, where commas might be confusing or visually unappealing.
Really though, the dash is something you'll have to get a feel for. The best way to get a feel for it? By reading.
Stephen King said it best:
"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that."
Reading good books was foundational to my growth as a writer, and I can pinpoint my greatest leaps as a writer happened when I also did my best reading. Whether it's fiction, non-fiction, filled with great stories or just inspirational ideas, go out there and read. You'll learn how to use things like the dash, but also a lot more. You'll learn everything you need to know, actually!
And how nice is that?
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