In using the em-dash, where do you put the spaces? Which of the following is correct?
School is based on the three R’s —reading, writing, and ’rithemtic.
or
School is based on the three R’s— reading, writing, and ’rithemtic.
or
School is based on the three R’s — reading, writing, and ’rithemtic.
Best Answer
If we can trust Grammar Girl's thoroughness of search, then her advice is sound:
So:
That said, em dashes are often substituted with en dashes in British English, and these are spaced when used parenthetically:
(Also, some British English guides are more or less strict about the use of the serial comma – the above sentence may be seen as: "[...] reading, writing and ’rithemtic").