Hopefully, we’re now pretty clear on colons and semicolons. But we might need a quick refresher on dashes to know when we should use them.

First off, dashes only replace colons and semicolons when connecting clauses. Dashes will never be appropriate in a list. To decide whether you want to replace a colon or semicolon with a dash, ask yourself how formal or informal the piece you are writing is. We use dashes to show a more informal tone, or to create an extra emphasis on the moment of surprise or drama in the sentence. It comes down to a writer’s own decisions again here, it’s up to you whether you think a dash is more appropriate. If you’re writing academically or at work, it’s best to stick with a colon or semicolon.