I have a problem with the dash. Not the 50 yard kind you run on a track, though I’d probably struggle with that too. No, the dash I am referring to is this little piece of punctuation: –
My problem started with over-dashing. It was as if I forgot all about the comma, semicolon and period. If I paused, I dashed. I would catch my right middle finger headed for that sneaky little dash nearly every sentence. Once I was aware of my bad habit I was eventually able to catch myself and make better choices. My problems with the dash were over!
Or so I thought . . .until my arch-nemesis of punctuation reared its ugly head from the top of the synopsis I submitted for critique at the James River Writer’s Writing Show. It was right there laughing mockingly at me from the most grammatically incorrect of places, as if to say: You used to be my biggest fan. We hung out all the time. And now you avoid me, shun me, turn your back on me. Well I’ll show you . . .
To which I say: bring it on dash, bring it on. I’m not embarrassed by you. I’m glad the error was brought to my attention. And no, it isn’t even particularly bothersome that a whole audience full of people saw you because maybe you helped them too. So if you’ll kindly excuse me, I have some editing to do . . .