In a world grappling with major global issues, a tech billionaire's opinion on punctuation might seem trivial. Yet, Elon Musk’s recent comment on the humble dash has tapped into a surprisingly passionate, long-running debate.
A Dash of Confusion
In a recent post on his social
media platform, X, Elon Musk weighed in on the em dash (—), the long dash used to signal a break in thought. He argued that it is an 'unpleasantly long a line' and that it too closely resembles a hyphenated word when used without spaces, as is common in book publishing. His proposed solution? The 'rules of English need to change' to favour the shorter en dash (–), which he feels is a 'better length'. For many, this was a peek into a grammatical rabbit hole they never knew existed, raising the question: what exactly is the difference, and does it really matter?
A Typographer's Toolkit: Hyphen, En, and Em
Think of these three marks as different tools for different jobs. The hyphen (-) is the shortest and most common, found on every keyboard. Its main role is to join words together, as in 'well-being' or 'state-of-the-art'. The en dash (–), so named because it's about the width of the letter 'n', is a connector. Its primary function is to indicate a range, like 'pages 25–30' or 'the years 2024–2026'. The em dash (—), the longest of the trio and roughly the width of the letter 'm', is the most dramatic. It creates a pause or separates a parenthetical thought from the main sentence—like this one—offering more emphasis than commas or parentheses.
The Great Spacing Debate
Musk’s preference for a shorter dash isn’t just about length; it's about style and readability. He’s inadvertently waded into a style war that has pitted major editorial authorities against each other for decades. On one side is 'The Chicago Manual of Style', the standard for book publishing, which dictates that an em dash should be used without any spaces on either side—like so. On the other is the 'Associated Press (AP) Stylebook', used by journalists, which requires spaces around the em dash — like this. Interestingly, AP style doesn't use the en dash for ranges at all, preferring a simple hyphen instead. Some typographers even support a third option common in British style: using a spaced en dash – like this – for parenthetical phrases, arguing it’s less visually jarring than a closed-up em dash.
Design-Minded or Just a Distraction?
So, is Musk's suggestion a thoughtful design tweak or a random musing? It’s likely a bit of both. As someone deeply involved in product design and user interface, his focus on how text appears on a screen is logical. The 'unpleasant' length of the em dash he mentions is a genuine aesthetic concern for many typographers who believe a spaced en dash creates a more balanced and readable block of text. However, his desire to unilaterally 'change the rules of English' via a post on X is characteristic of his disruptive approach. He often uses his platform to voice opinions on everything from manufacturing to global politics, and now, to punctuation. This instance transforms a niche style preference into a piece of internet culture, debated by millions who may have never previously considered the dimensions of a dash.
