Reply To: Dash, Long Dash, Hyphen
Hello,
This seemed like a straightforward question until I started thinking and asking about it. The reason we are confused about the use of the long dash is because we have transcriber's discretion in this area. Here's the rundown:
- There is no one-to-one, print-to-braille, definitive way of transcribing dashes. Use transcriber's discretion.
- There are at least four different kinds of dashes used in print for various purposes.
- The length of the print dash and its usage both play a part in the braille representation.
- The en-dash is often transcribed as a hyphen, even if there are real hyphens elsewhere in the text.
- The em-dash is often transcribed as a regular braille dash.
- The long braille dash is used for the longest print dash if it is determined that there is a need for distinction from a regular dash, such as a 2-em or 3-em dash. An example might be that used in bibliographies when the author of multiple resources is represented with a 3-em dash.
So, you could do it this way:
Page 21: regular dash
Page 14: hyphen
Page 5: regular dash
Page 4: long dash
... or this way:
Page 21:hyphen
Page 14: hyphen
Page 5: hyphen
Page 4: regular dash
Either way is acceptable.
Braille on,
Julie