Morning Gratitude: 3 Reasons I’m Thankful for the Em Dash (—)
No, really — as I wrote, yesterday’s morning gratitude post, I realized how grateful I am for the em dash (—). It is so loving and forgiving to non-journalist writers like me. It also serves as a Xanax to calm my anxiety about my writing. This is no joke, albeit a little funny — I am thankful for the em dash.
Earlier this week, my sons gave me a self-journal for my birthday. One of the rituals includes journaling three things you are grateful for. As an alternative, you can pick one thing and list three reasons why you are grateful for that “thing.”. I decided to blog my morning gratitude so that I can practice my writing, have more content for my blog and to inspire others to practice gratitude. The em dash has (thus far) helped me post my morning gratitude each day.
The Em Dash Shortens the Time it Takes me to Draft a Post
I suffer from lupus-related central nervous system (CNS) issues that are not yet under control. While to most people, they cannot see how that inhibits my ability to get things done, I know it slows me down. This dash makes it possible for me to draft a post. I just use it when I don’t have time to look up whether I should use a colon (:), semicolon (;), or a comma (,).
The Em Dash is Flexible
If this grammar aide was a person, I would do anything to be its friend. I would follow it on social media. I would be its biggest fan. The em dash has that easy going quality I like in friends. This punctuation mark is quite flexible and is willing to anything I need it to be.
Did I mention, I am a great friend? I would not use it more than twice in the same paragraph. I would also show it appreciation — Hello! I have dedicated an entire post to it!
The Em Dash Eases my Anxiety
I am able to practice courage instead of succumbing to my writer’s anxiety and that is because of this awesome punctuation. This awesome tool allows me to do what I need to do to become a better writer. Write often.
Yes, I am also working on my grammar and my writing skills. The em dash allows me to write as I become intimate with writing rules. I will never stop using it, but I want it to continue to be my friend. Overusing it will tire it of me and it will degrade (instead of improving) my writing. Oh, em dash — how I thank and appreciate you!
