The rules of when and where to use which kind of dash may seem complex and hard to understand, but they don't have to. Here's your guide to how to use em dashes, en dashes, and hyphens correctly.
The em dash is bigger than an en dash, which is the width of the letter N. It is important to be consistent when using dashes. ProWritingAid’s Consistency Report can help you make sure you aren’t using an en dash or double hyphen when you mean to use an em dash. Remember, em...
How to Use the Dash The dash is one of those punctuation marks that many people have seen throughout their lives but have probably given little thought about how it’s really supposed to be used. In fact, if you are reading this article right now, you probably have some questions about ...
The name em dash comes from its size, which is about the same width as a capital ‘M’. But the em dash goes by other names too: m dash, long hyphen, long dash—and just plain awesome. When to use an em dash? 1. To replace parentheses Normally, you use parentheses to offset som...
en dash: when to use each symbol My editor made me add this, so really quickly, here's the difference between an em and en dash: The em dash (—) is used to separate extra information or mark a break in a sentence. For example: A notebook, pen, and laptop—these were all in...
Once you’re finished inserting the em dash, don’t forget to turn off the Number Lock by pressing the NumLock key again, or else the above-mentioned keys will continue to appear as numbers when you type. Microsoft Word You can use the em dash keyboard shortcut in any word processor or...
The en dash: Marking a range The main use of the en dash is to indicate a range of numbers or a span of time. You can read it as representing “to” or “through”: The First World War (1914–1918) was one of the deadliest conflicts in history. ...
There are two basic ways to use an em dash in a sentence: After an independent clause:Author Saul Below, in "My Paris," provides an example of using an em dash after an independent clause: "Life, said Samuel Butler, is like giving a concert on the violin while learning to play the ...
You can use an en dash in a complex compound adjective when one or both of its elements are already hyphenated compounds, although it’s also acceptable to use hyphens in these kinds of constructions—just be consistent. The pro-choice–anti-abortion argument is always a heated one. The pro...
But you likely don't want to search “em dash copy and paste” every time you need an em dash. So here's how to create one yourself: 2. Best Option: Use the Em Dash Keyboard Shortcut There is a simple shortcut that includes the dash key on your keyboard that will quickly and eas...