DEFINING THE DASH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 October 1938, Page 6

DEFINING THE DASH

FOREIGN OFFICE STAFF TEST. To such classic queries as “Why is a mouse when it spins?” and “How long is a piece of string?” may now be added a new one, thought out by the Civil Service Commission —“What is a dash?” (says the London “Daily Telegraph.”) The right answer, according to the Commission, is:— “A dash must be represented by a hyphen with a space on each side; a hyphen without spaces will not be accepted as a dash, nor will two or three nyphens placed side by side, whether accompanied by spaces or not.” The rule was laid down in the French examination paper for clerical officers and shorthand typistes of the Foreign Office this year. For sheer palpitation suspense value it would be hard to surpass the hints given to the examiner in French shorthand. “Before reading the passages for shorthand dictation,” states the paper, “the reader will jnake the following announcement, which should be read slowly:— “ ‘Please put down your pens and pencils for a few moments. I will tell you when to take them up. In order that you may be comfortable and at ease for this test, and may get used to my voice, I will read a short preliminary passage. ... After he had read it, he-continues: “You have already been given certain information on your time-table, and on it you were told that you would be given an opportunity to bring to my notice any matter to which you wished to call attention. Now is the time, so please put up your. hand if you have anything to say.” Those present presumably seize the opportunity in the best diplomatic tradition to make a demarche, produce something sur le tapis, and generally leave no stone unturned. These matters having been disposed of, "the reader will then pause until the supervisor signals him to go on.” While hearts pound madly he reaches zero hour. Even the official notes excitedly give way at this point to exclamation marks. “I shall new read the first passage of 200 words at a speed of 40 words a minute. Take up your pens and pencils. Ready!” After which there should have sounded the staccato report of the starter’s pistol ’•'stead of the examiner’s vo ; "c ntoning.