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Should the first word after a dash used as self-interruption be capitalized?

English Language & Usage Asked on June 23, 2021

When writing dialogue, a dash can be used to denote interruption. For example:

“Hello, can I ask you about—”

“No.”

If a character is interrupting themself, should the first word of the interruption be capitalized? In other words, should the word oh be capitalized in the following quote?

“Have you seen — oh my God, you’re him!”

One Answer

Jane Straus advocates lower-case to follow a dash even after a sentence fragment:

I wish you would—oh, never mind.

To adapt her comments, This shows an abrupt change in thought and warrants an em dash.

Usage on the internet is non-uniform.

Correct answer by Edwin Ashworth on June 23, 2021

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