This rule applies to American English and follows The Chicago Manual of Style. New Hart’s Rules, Oxford Style Guide, doesn’t address voice explicitly, but British English generally follows this rule too. “Avoid the passive voice” is one of the most commonly repeated pieces of writing advice and one of the most misunderstood. Voice tells us whether the subject of a sentence performs the action (active) or receives it (passive), and the passive can be a valuable tool when used

Use a hyphen for stuttering. Example: “I-I love you.” Use an em dash for an interruption or abrupt ending. Example: “I don’t understa—” Use an em dash to set off an action beat in the middle of dialogue. Example: “You think I care”—she shoved past him—“about your basic rules?” Use an ellipsis for trailing off. Example: “I’m in love with…”