840. Use a dash (—) when the thought is abruptly broken off.

Just then the telephone rang—I wish I could remember who was calling.

841. Use dashes rather than parentheses to inclose informal parenthetical material.

He offered me—imagine it—twenty dollars a week.

842. Use a dash before a summarizing expression.

After the wheat is all in, after the horses are put up, and after the chores have been done—then you may use the car.

843. Never use a dash where a period should be used.

Wrong. Come tomorrow—everybody will be here then—

Right. Come tomorrow. Everybody will be here then.

844. Never use a dash where a comma should be used.