Mõttekriips

Mõttekriips, also known as an em dash or dash, is a punctuation mark used in Estonian orthography. It is a long horizontal line that is wider than a hyphen. Its primary function is to indicate a pause or a break in thought within a sentence.

One common use of the mõttekriips is to set off parenthetical information, similar to parentheses or commas. For example, "Ta ütles – ja see oli üllatav – et tuleb hiljem." This usage helps to separate an aside from the main flow of the sentence, adding emphasis or clarity.

Another function of the mõttekriips is to indicate an abrupt change of thought or an interruption. For instance, "Ma mõtlesin, et läheme välja, aga siis – oh ei, see on liiga pikk lugu." This demonstrates a shift in direction or an unfinished idea.

The mõttekriips can also be used to introduce a summary or explanation. "See on tema elu eesmärk – aidata teisi." Here, the dash introduces the clarifying statement.

In some contexts, it can also represent a missing word or a pause in dialogue, particularly in informal writing or creative works. The distinction between a hyphen and a mõttekriips is important in Estonian grammar, as they serve different purposes and have different visual representations. The mõttekriips is generally longer than a hyphen.