I flipped open its latch and peered inside. A—gold tooth?
I flipped open its latch and peered inside. A ... gold tooth?
Was it an elephant? No, elephants didn't frequent beaches. It was—a whale!
Was it an elephant? No, elephants didn't frequent beaches. It was ... a whale!
What's the right symbol to use in the examples above?
Answer
em dashes are usually used to denote an interruption or sudden change — whether in dialogue, thought or narrative — ellipses are for pauses, again in all respects.
'I just don't see why—
'I don't care what you think,' Johan barked, turning from me before I could protest.
'She was just...' His face turned pale as his memory returned to that night.
'Just what?' I asked, eager for more.
here are some resources:
Jodie Renner Editing
Novel Publicity
Writer's Relief
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