M-Dash or ellipsis?

[Boneman]

I'm concerned my work has become a little irregular, in that I seem to use M-dashes sometimes and ellipses at others, when I want to indicate pauses... I'm convinced it should be one or the other, but I'm not sure which is best. Any ideas? Here's an example:

"Most of all, don’t speak of your –” he hesitated, “– ability.”
or:
"Most of all, don’t speak of your...” he hesitated, “...ability.”

or even:
"Most of all, don’t speak of your –” He hesitated. “– Ability.”
"Most of all, don’t speak of your...” He hesitated. “...Ability.”

[Mouse]

I'd do: "Most of all, don't speak of your... ability." You don't need 'he hesitated' do you? The ellipses says it.

I'd use the M-dash for somebody/something interrupting speech.

[Hex]

I'd use the top versions without capitals, and whether I used dashes or ellipses would depend on the length of the pause. I'd read ellipses as a longer one and the dash as a short break.

[Shane Enochs]

Originally Posted by Mouse

I'd do: "Most of all, don't speak of your... ability." You don't need 'he hesitated' do you? The ellipses says it.

I'd use the M-dash for somebody/something interrupting speech.

I'd definitely go with this. If you put in "he hesitated", it's like you're saying it twice.

[springs]

I wouldn't use ... with he hesitated (I don't think, I probably need to check) as I think it indicates the pause anyway. If I did it with -- I'd go He hesitated -- and see it as an action. I need to think more about this sort of thing, actually.

[Boneman]

Why is it so obvious when someone points it out??? Thank you all...

[Brev]

Originally Posted by Mouse

I'd do: "Most of all, don't speak of your... ability." You don't need 'he hesitated' do you? The ellipses says it.

I'd use the M-dash for somebody/something interrupting speech.

I agree with Mouse. I'd use ... to indicate a pause or hesitation in speech, and - to indicate where speech has been interrupted or cut prematurely short.

[Ursa major]

Originally Posted by Boneman

I'm concerned my work has become a little irregular, in that I seem to use M-dashes sometimes and ellipses at others, when I want to indicate pauses... I'm convinced it should be one or the other, but I'm not sure which is best. Any ideas? Here's an example:

"Most of all, don’t speak of your –” he hesitated, “– ability.”

Just a small point, but those look like n-dashes to me.

N-dashes: “Most of all, don’t speak of your –” he hesitated, “– ability.”
M-dashes: “Most of all, don’t speak of your—” he hesitated, “—ability.”

Note that if you do put m-dashes in, you should remove the space character between them and the text (as shown above).

[David Evil Overlord]

What Brev said. That's what I've been told. Interruptions are - or --, while hesitations are ...

[Boneman]

Originally Posted by Ursa major

Just a small point, but those look like n-dashes to me.

N-dashes: “Most of all, don’t speak of your –” he hesitated, “– ability.”
M-dashes: “Most of all, don’t speak of your—” he hesitated, “—ability.”

Note that if you do put m-dashes in, you should remove the space character between them and the text (as shown above).

My handwriting is so bad, that an N and M dash are identical... feeble excuse number one for not knowing. Thanks Ursa!