[texhax] The Em Rule, a Question of Style

[Lars Madsen]

P. R. Stanley wrote:
> Hi folks,
> I read somewhere that the em rule should preferably be prefixed with a 
> non-breakable space character ( ~ ), mainly for stylistic reasons, 
> however, there was no mention of a ~ suffix to ensure that a line break 
> doesn't occur immediately after the em dash.  Would a conscientious 
> typesetter place a ~ on both sides of the em dash, or a prefix ~ is the 
> only stylistic requirement? Further, what would the list think of the 
> idea of using \mbox to make sure that a line break doesn't appear on the 
> left or either side of the em rule/
> 
> Thanks
> Paul
> 

ok, that requirement, I haven't heard for the em-dash, but rather for 
the en-dash

To my knowledge, in English the em-dash is used without spaces, and in

blah---blah

in LaTeX code.

Whereas in Danish, we write

blah -- blah

that is with spaces and with an en-dash. I haven't heard that a 
non-breaking space is needed in this case.

(My copy of the Chicago Manual of Style, is at home so I cannot look it up)


-- 

/daleif