Dashes vs. Hyphens

During my 6 months of reviewing, I've noticed that most authors here on AFF have problems with differentiating dashes and hyphens. Most authors use hyphens instead of dashes; and vice versa. This is why I decided to post a lesson regarding this issue. I hope this is helpful though.

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Dashes...

Dashes, like commas, semicolons, colons, ellipses, and parentheses, indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought. Experienced writers know that these marks are not interchangeable. Remember that the dash is a longer line compared to a hyphen. The Dash is the longer line used as punctuation in sentences – coming in between words (as in this sentence). It can also be used – as here – in pairs. Note how dashes subtly change the tone of the following sentences:

Examples:

You are the friend, the only friend, who offered to help me. You are the friend—the only friend—who offered to help me. I pay the bills; she has all the fun. I pay the bills—she has all the fun. I wish you would…oh, never mind. I wish you would—oh, never mind.

Rules:

Rule 1. Words and phrases between dashes are not generally part of the subject. Example: Chanyeol—and his trusty mutt—was always welcome. Rule 2. Dashes replace otherwise mandatory punctuation. Without dash: The man from Seoul, Suho, arrived. With dash: The man—he was from Seoul, South Korea—arrived. Without dash: The May 26, 2014 edition of the Sparking Magazine arrived in June. With dash: The Sparklin