I got to answer a question at fandom_grammar about trailing punctuation and pauses. Oh yes, ellipses and em dashes. It's like grammar heaven for me!

Punctuation tells you how to read a sentence. It's as scientific as writing ever gets. Each symbol for punctuation correlates to a different, specific meaning and the punctuations for pauses each determine a different length of pause. Punctuation that indicates trailing off or interruptions can be very different, as well, and if not properly punctuated could convey a meaning very different from the intended meaning.

I had fun looking for canon examples rather than just writing all of my own. Trailing dialogue? Oh yes, Daniel is a natural for that. I also went to FMA (because manga tends to have a unique usage for ellipses) and I wanted to tear my eyes out. Because aside from doing the typical manga thing of starting dialogue with an ellipsis or having only an ellipsis for the dialogue, there were tons of examples that weren't what I needed! Frustrating!

Anyway, em dashes are love. Go read.

I got to answer a question at fandom_grammar about trailing punctuation and pauses. Oh yes, ellipses and em dashes. It's like grammar heaven for me!

Punctuation tells you how to read a sentence. It's as scientific as writing ever gets. Each symbol for punctuation correlates to a different, specific meaning and the punctuations for pauses each determine a different length of pause. Punctuation that indicates trailing off or interruptions can be very different, as well, and if not properly punctuated could convey a meaning very different from the intended meaning.

I had fun looking for canon examples rather than just writing all of my own. Trailing dialogue? Oh yes, Daniel is a natural for that. I also went to FMA (because manga tends to have a unique usage for ellipses) and I wanted to tear my eyes out. Because aside from doing the typical manga thing of starting dialogue with an ellipsis or having only an ellipsis for the dialogue, there were tons of examples that weren't what I needed! Frustrating!

Anyway, em dashes are love. Go read.