Learn English – Don’t take this (or that?) the wrong way

expressions

I know the meaning of this sentence.
But can I change `this’ to ‘that’?

For example,

I think you should get a proper job.
But don't take that—a proper job—the wrong way.

Oh and could you check the dashes whether I use it correctly?
Thank you!

Best Answer

Usually, we use this if we are saying not to take it the wrong way before we tell the person what we want to say, and that if we are saying it afterwards:

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you should get a proper job.
I think you should get a proper job, but don't take that the wrong way.

Your use of dashes is appropriate, but what you are enclosing in dashes is not. You are not asking the person not to take "a proper job" the wrong way. Rather, you are referring to your statement that you think he should get one. To do this correctly sounds awkward:

I think you should get a proper job, but don't take that—my thought that you should get a proper job—the wrong way.

The explanation set off in dashes doesn't add to the understanding of the request—we already know what "that" refers to—and therefore can and should be removed. (There's an example of how to use dashes for you.)

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