Using en dashes - between words

[anthrodisiac]

Huh, I didn't realize en dashes were used primarily to replace the word "to" in stuff like pages 124–139 or August 1–August 7 or the Paris–London Flight. Even an old bird can learn something every once in a while it would seem.

 

[TheLobster]

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I like it, but the digital one is rendered so cluttered at normal font size as to render me trying to wipe off my screen to get the smudge off the question mark.

I feel like using this interrobang thing, instead of !? like any normal person would, is the writerly and/or typographic equivalent of using Dvorak layout over QWERTY, or tau as the circle constant over pi, because omg they're soooo obviously superior you guise!

 

[MrPixel]

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I like it, but the digital one is rendered so cluttered at normal font size as to render me trying to wipe off my screen to get the smudge off the question mark.

I was introduced to the interrobang when I was 11, on reading an article in one of my Dad's technical journals. The article was about the then-new "Americana" typeface, and highlighted that this new font was the first from a major foundry including the interrobang. It works in some typefaces, it sure as heck doesn't work in Verdana as @anthrodisiac noted, and most other sans-serif fonts lacking contrast.

Also, it was my introduction to typography in general. I recall shortly after that, I rode my bike to the toy store and found a toy "printing press" with movable rubber type that was mounted in channels that fit on a small drum. I entertained myself and a few of my friends with it for a while. One friend's parents noted his and my interest in typesetting, and bought him a set of real lead foundry type and a flat press form with furniture. (Obviously, the OMG! of children playing with lead hadn't been discovered yet.) But we had fun with the set and it was a genuine course in real, hand-set typesetting.

I still have that toy press with the rubber type. Don't know what Dave did with his stuff.

 

[anthrodisiac]

I was introduced to the interrobang when I was 11, on reading an article in one of my Dad's technical journals. The article was about the then-new "Americana" typeface, and highlighted that this new font was the first from a major foundry including the interrobang. It works in some typefaces, it sure as heck doesn't work in Verdana as @anthrodisiac noted, and most other sans-serif fonts lacking contrast.

Also, it was my introduction to typography in general. I recall shortly after that, I rode my bike to the toy store and found a toy "printing press" with movable rubber type that was mounted in channels that fit on a small drum. I entertained myself and a few of my friends with it for a while. One friend's parents noted his and my interest in typesetting, and bought him a set of real lead foundry type and a flat press form with furniture. (Obviously, the OMG! of children playing with lead hadn't been discovered yet.) But we had fun with the set and it was a genuine course in real, hand-set typesetting.

I still have that toy press with the rubber type. Don't know what Dave did with his stuff.

Okay, that's dorky as fuck, but I also love that so much

*glances at the title under my name* Oh.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

I love the interrobang, and I agree that it's annoying always having to copy and paste it or use the Windows Character Map. I've used it in several of my stories here, but I almost never see anybody else use it.

I use it in mine, but you'll only find them in stories written on my phone or at one time, a tablet. There's no way, or convenient way to use one on my laptop.

 

[IWroteThis]

I feel like using this interrobang thing, instead of !? like any normal person would, is the writerly and/or typographic equivalent of using Dvorak layout over QWERTY, or tau as the circle constant over pi, because omg they're soooo obviously superior you guise!

When I first found the interrobang less than ten years ago, I liked it, but I figured it was some new-fangled social media creation. I was surprised to learn it's actually older than I am.

Looking back on my English education, we were taught to use only a single punctuation mark, except for three periods. I didn't know that !? and ?! were legitimate until I discovered the interrobang and read how it replaced them with a single character to stop the fight over which should come first.

To be honest, the only time I can recall seeing !? or ?! used is in explaining the origin of the interrobang, never in the wild.

 

[MiaSalnias]

One friend's parents noted his and my interest in typesetting, and bought him a set of real lead foundry type and a flat press form with furniture. (Obviously, the OMG! of children playing with lead hadn't been discovered yet.) But we had fun with the set and it was a genuine course in real, hand-set typesetting.

I still have that toy press with the rubber type. Don't know what Dave did with his stuff.

Several years ago I had an opportunity to buy a real working antique printing press. It was about half the size of a car. If I could have somehow got it down into my basement, I would have bought it. Looking back, I'm lucky my stairs were too narrow - I doubt I'm mechanical enough to keep old machinery like that working.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'd rather not use en dashes between adjectives as often as Grammarly does, and I'm not sure if it is generally acceptable not to.
Well-worn, high-heels, gray-haired, etc.

I think all three of these examples show how the hyphen (not en dash -- see other comments) enhances clarity.

I assumed you meant "high-heeled," not "high heels."

The hyphen emphasizes that the first word modifies the second word, not the third word, and that can make a difference.

 

[SmilingLez]

I hate all dashes — they need to be eliminated - permanently

 

[IWroteThis]

I hate all dashes — they need to be eliminated - permanently

The 100-yard dash was the worst. I hated PE!

 

[Britva415]

To be honest, the only time I can recall seeing !? or ?! used is in explaining the origin of the interrobang, never in the wild.

I use it all the time. Usually the first variant. Not usually in anything that isn't completely casual.