In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: A dash is noticeably longer than a hyphen. There are several different dashes, but the most commonly used are the en dash (–) and the em dash (—). They are so named because they are the same width as the letter N and letter M, respectively.  An en dash (–) is most commonly used to indicate a range of numbers. An em dash (—) is most often used to indicate a break in thought or to set an appositive off from the rest of the sentence. Hyphens are used to connect two words into a single concept, such as with 2-liter bottle, or old-time traditions. Hyphens are half the length of a dash. Despite looking similar, they are actually not a dash at all. Before you begin using an em dash in a sentence, you should be able to identify independent clauses. Seeing the clauses in your writing will help you understand where a dash would best fit. An independent clause is one that can stand on its own because it contains both a subject and a verb, for example:  "I love pizza." "My mom makes me dinner." "When you come over," would be an example of a dependent clause. While it has both a subject and a verb, it does not represent a complete thought. Some circumstances, such as indicating date or number ranges, will always call for en dashes. Others, such as offsetting information or creating a pause, don't always need an em dash. Use dashes to create greater emphasis or to foster an informal tone in your writing. Don’t rely on them for situations when another form of punctuation will do. Remember that there are other useful punctuation marks including commas, semicolons, and parentheses.
Summary: Know the kinds of dashes. Identify an independent clause to use em dashes. Use em dashes sparingly.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: No matter how you may feel in the moment, it's always best to reserve a serious conversation like this for a time and place when you can be alone. Collect your thoughts beforehand and invite your friend to a place that feels neutral, like a park (if it's nice out) or a coffee shop you can both get to easily.  Ask your friend's permission to have a serious talk. Say something like, "There's something that's been bothering me, and I was hoping we could sit down alone for a few minutes to talk. Is that okay?" Make sure you're not angry, hurt, or otherwise upset when you sit down to talk to your friend. Remember that this is supposed to be a meaningful conversation, not a chance to prove that you're right or your friend is wrong. Focus on honesty and straightforwardness, but remain grounded in compassion. Once you're sitting down and talking about the issue at hand, it's important to focus on specific incidents - preferably recent incidents so it doesn't feel like you're dredging up the past. As you recall each incident to your friend, let him or her know how it made you feel. Try to convey why you felt that way, and what it was about your friend's words/actions that affected you so strongly.  Use "I" statements. For example, instead of saying "You were mean to me," reframe it around your observations/feelings: "I felt like you didn't consider how it made me feel when you said _____." Don't use judgmental words, and don't make or convey any assumptions about your friend. Say something like, "The other day you said _______. That really hurt my feelings, and it really embarrassed me in front of everyone. It felt like you didn't care about me as a friend." Keep your emotions in check as you talk. Any time you feel tempted to say something out of anger, take a deep breath and think about how you can reframe the conversation without getting upset. Remember that the point of talking to your friend isn't to make him/her feel bad, nor is it to make you feel superior. You should be setting up a real, productive conversation about the nature of your friendship, so your friend will naturally have some input as well. Be open and willing to hear what your friend has to say.  Be alert and attentive. Resist the urge to plan out what you want to say in response, and instead focus on listening. Don't interrupt. Give your friend a chance to speak, and if there's anything you were unclear on you can address it once your friend has finished talking. When it's your turn to speak, acknowledge what your friend has said. Say something like, "I understand what you're saying. Here's where I'm coming from." Don't argue or try to invalidate what your friend has said, but accept it and ask for clarification if needed. Once you've had a back-and-forth dialogue about the problems you've been noticing, your friend might understand where you're coming from and vow to change. However, if that doesn't happen, you may need to offer a concrete plan of action on what you need your friend to change.  Let your friend know what you would like things to be different going forward. Be specific. Try to give concrete examples - for example, advise your friend on how things might have been said/done differently during an encounter that you felt was condescending. Reiterate to your friend that you care about him/her and value the friendship you have. Remind your friend that you're not trying to nitpick or cut off your friendship; rather, you're actually trying to strengthen your bond.
Summary:
Create a safe and open atmosphere to address the issue. Focus on conveying what happened and how it made you feel. Listen to your friend's response. Offer a concrete solution.