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It's obviously somewhat circular. :)
It's not circular, it's a line! :-)
To take your arguments for (It should always be 'En dashes' and 'Em dashes') in turn.
Because the reference letters are uppercase
The name 'em' was in reference to the block size of the uppercase letter M, but that's no reason for it to be uppercase itself. If it was about the shape, like T-shirt or Q-tip, we'd maybe be in agreement.
because it's a name
Well, it's a noun, but it's not a proper noun, so it doesn't need a capital for that reason.
and to distinguish it from the measurement unit.
It is the measurement unit (the em of pica is a third of an inch or something) so doesn't need distinguishing from itself.
Feel like I may have lost the room long ago at this point, but have attached some screengrabs from the OED on the usages of 'em' for fellow nerds … en-joy!
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croggy
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It's not circular, it's a line! :-)
And what is a circle other than a circular line? I rest my case, m'lord.
Because the reference letters are uppercase
The name 'em' was in reference to the block size of the uppercase letter M, but that's no reason for it to be uppercase itself. If it was about the shape, like T-shirt or Q-tip, we'd maybe be in agreement.
Well, the lowercase letter m does not have the same block size.
because it's a name
Well, it's a noun, but it's not a proper noun, so it doesn't need a capital for that reason.
Yes, and more specifically, it's a name. It's a name that has recognisable components, but it's still a name. Obviously, the English word 'noun' comes from the Latin word 'nomen'=name, but in English, name and noun are different concepts. Equally obviously, there are different conventions for capitalisation of names; I've always found it interesting that there are lowercase usernames on here, and I observe the convention of not capitalising them, even at the beginning of sentences. Some names have capitals on every component, and some have a mix, e.g. Transport for London.
and to distinguish it from the measurement unit.
It is the measurement unit (the em of pica is a third of an inch or something) so doesn't need distinguishing from itself.
The Em dash is not the measurement unit, the em is. Not sure what you were driving at there.
Feel like I may have lost the room long ago at this point, but have attached some screengrabs from the OED on the usages of 'em' for fellow nerds … en-joy!
I'm well aware of general usage, but both variants are in use. In my opinion, 'Em dash' and 'En dash' are clearer and better. They still contain the idea that the dashes are derived from the measurement unit, but clarify that they are different from the unit.
Don't worry about losing the room, unless you go to Nerd Nite, in which case you don't have to worry about losing the room, either. (NB I've never been, nor have I been to Dorkbot, although I have been to GeekstraVEGANza. I thought I'd clarify this.)
Oliver Schick
Because the reference letters are uppercase, because it's a name, and to distinguish it from the measurement unit.
It's obviously somewhat circular. :)