As in, “Season 5 of Friends ran from 1998 to 1999,” or “My flight from New York to Los Angeles was delayed.”), Another way to use an en dash is to create complex compound adjectives. Unsubscribe at any time. En Dash: An en dash, roughly the width of an n, is a little longer than a hyphen. It comes most com­monly in pairs and has a func­tion sim­i­lar to paren­the­ses (i.e. The longer em dash (—) is used to separate extra information or mark a break in a sentence. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. A Nobel Prize–winning author is going to be at the party, and I want to meet her! Usage. First, it may be used to indicate a range—of numbers, … You’re probably thinking, “Rules are all well and good, but how do you use an en dash in a sentence?”. They’re used to connect two items (usually numbers) that designate … . Below I explain what each dash is used for, provide examples, and show you how to create these marks in different word processors. It’s the middle one of the three in terms of size—bigger than a hyphen, smaller than an em dash. How cool is that! 2.2. There was an error submitting your subscription. The em-dash (—) The em-dash is normally twice as long as the n-dash; its length is equal to the width of the letter m, whence the name. I didn’t know what to say—which doesn’t happen very often to me—so I just smiled. Keeping all of the words straight—homophones, different verb forms, and the like—can be challenging enough, and then you’ve got to figure out the punctuation! En Dash: An en dash, roughly the width of an n, is a little longer than a hyphen. The en dash (–) is a bit wider than the hyphen (-) and narrower than the em dash (—). Examples where an em-dash should be used: School is based on the three R’s—reading, writing, and ’rithmetic. In appearance, an en dash is slightly longer than a hyphen (-), approximately the width of a capital N, while an em dash is slightly longer than an en dash, approximately the width of a capital M (hence their names). Miss America is hoping for world peace—or so she says! Em dashes can replace a comma where a comma doesn’t provide a strong enough break. Unlike an em dash, an en dash has a smaller number of appropriate uses. I did… Revised on February 11, 2020. The html codes for the en dash are – or – To type an en dash in Microsoft Word, press the Ctrl and minus sign keys on the numeric keypad (on a standard keyboard). However, I only recommend products or services that I genuinely like and trust. Hyphens already create compound adjectives, as in “red-haired” or “award-winning.” An en dash serves the purpose of a hyphen when one of the things you’re joining includes more than one word. An em dash is the width of an m.Use an em dash sparingly in formal writing. Warning: Beware of using hyphens in place of em dashes. An en dash or en rule (–) is wider than a hyphen (-) and narrower than an em dash (–). Dashes are used to separate two words into statements.It should be noted that dashes are It is called n dash because in some traditional fonts, it is as wide as the letter “n.” An en-dash is generally used in two situations. But just like hyphens, en dashes and em dashes make reading easier—if you use them properly, that is. En dash The en dash (–) is slightly wider than the hyphen (-) but narrower than the em dash (—). A hyphen’s main job is to let the reader know that … (I was going to add a note that this festival isn’t a real thing, but when I googled it, I found several different festivals with this name. They’re used to connect two items (usually numbers) that designate … When used in this fashion, it should not have spaces on either side. An em dash, or long dash, is used:. Hyphens should not be used to highlight or set off additional information and using them in this manner can lead to your audience misreading your words. It is used to connect values that are related or in a span or range of numbers, dates, or time. We won't send you spam. Em dashes can be used in place of commas, colons, semi-colons, or parentheses. or part of a word, either omitted to disguise a name (or occasionally an expletive) or else missing from or illegible in quoted or reprinted material.”. Don’t replace the second em-dash (as some tend to) with a comma or semicolon. Em dashes can be used at the end of a sentence or in pairs to draw attention to parenthetical information or additional “that is” thoughts within a sentence. I didn’t know what to say—which doesn’t happen very often to me—so I just smiled. It is used for periods of time when you might otherwise use to. Unfortunately, there isn’t an em dash symbol or an en dash symbol on a keyboard. She works from 9 to 5; what a way to make a living. An em dash is mostly used to set apart a phrase or clause. em-dash (or mdash or m-dash) Some web browsers display en dashes automatically. Dashes, if used incorrectly, can actually confuse readers (not just bother detail–oriented editors). Type en or em into the search bar, depending on which one you want to use. En dashes are used to show ranges of any kind. The en dash is also used when referencing scores and contest results: Finally, use the en dash between words that present a conflict, connection, contrast, or direction: The two hyphens will convert to an em dash on both Macs and PCs. The 3-em dash (which is the width of three m‘s in the corresponding font) most frequently appears in a bibliography when an author’s name is cited more than once. Even for native speakers, writing in English can be a challenge. ), The main purpose of an en dash (–) is to connect, . Em Dash: An em dash is useful to display how a person changes his subject mid-sentence or gets interrupted by an external disturbance. There are some other less well-known uses for the em dash; for example, the 2-em dash and the 3-em dash. In informal writing, em dashes may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and … But here are the two basic uses of en dashes: 1. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. You may see the en dash in two other situations, however. You can revoke your consent any time using the Revoke consent button. Em dash. The en dash (–) is a bit wider than the hyphen (-) and narrower than the em dash (—). (. Now that I’m living the dream of starting my own business and working from home, I want to help other freelancers and small business owners to do the same. Dashes, on the other hand, em­pha­size what’s in­side them; com­pare the fol­low­ing sen­tences: 1. This could be in numbers, such as page numbers (55–102) or time (1:00–2:30), or months, such as July–October. The en dash is known as the “short dash” and is usually used between numbers. As long as I have three things in my pantry—bread, chocolate, and ice cream—all is right in the world. a parenthetical; an ersatz-ellipsis). There are two types of dash. recommends putting a space before and after the em dash. Another em dash vs. en dash difference is the width. 2.2. En Dashes. En dashes are slightly shorter than em dashes. It comes most com­monly in pairs and has a func­tion sim­i­lar to paren­the­ses (i.e. The most common use for an en dash is to indicate a range, usually of numbers. Alternatively, insert en-dash from the Insert>Symbol menu. An em dash is a versatile bit of punctuation that can function like a comma or colon or set of parentheses. The en dash is slightly longer than the hyphen but not as long as the em dash. Please try again. is an in-depth but easily digestible course. Your guide to setting and tracking your business goals so you can have a successful year! They are not hyphens, as any competent designer or copy editor will tell you.. It allows, in a manner similar to parentheses, an additional thought to be added within a sentence by sort of breaking away from that sentence—as I’ve done here. (It is, in fact, the width of a typesetter’s letter “N,” whereas the em dash is the width of the letter “M”—thus their names.) Don’t replace the second em-dash (as some tend to) with a comma or semicolon. However, not all computers are the same, so this may not work for you. It can be thought of as replacing the word “to” or “through.” For instance, you could write: “The homework is to read pages 50–82.” or “The 1998–1999 season of Friends was my favorite.” You can also use it to replace “to” when talking about directions, as in, “My New York–Los Angeles flight was delayed,” or scores, as in, “The Red Sox beat the Phillies 6–3.” Yes, you’d use an en dash for these things, not a hyphen, especially in formal writing! Subscribe to my newsletter to receive regular updates and get access to the free guide. Inserting an en-dash in Latex. The em dash (about as wide as an uppercase M), is a relatively artistic punctuation mark, compared to the more technical hyphen and en dash. We use em-dashes to add emphasis to the size of the car. Beware of using hyphens in place of em dashes. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used. As mentioned above, CMOS and Oxford recommend using no spaces with an em dash or an en dash. En Dash vs. Em Dash: When and How to Use Them. Fun fact: The en dash is called the en rule in British English, and the em dash is called the em rule. Instead, they use only the em dash (see below for more on THAT variation). They also have a different function. Against all odds, Pete—the unluckiest man alive—won the lottery. notes that “many British publishers use an en rule with space either side as a parenthetical dash, but Oxford and most US publishers use an em rule.”. They look very similar and are sometimes used for the same purpose (depending on what style guide you use). Click on the Special Characters tab, and choose whichever dash you want to use. Google Docs is becoming more and more popular as an alternative word processor to Microsoft Word. The en dash is approximately the length of the letter n, and the em dash the length of the letter m. The shorter en dash (–) is used to mark ranges. The longer em dash is usually used to separate out asides in a sentence or denote a pause. If you’d like to improve your grammar and punctuation skills so you can communicate better or hone your proofreading skills, Grammar Lion: A Grammar Refresher is an in-depth but easily digestible course. Em Dash vs En Dash There are many different tools in English language to give spacing between words in a text such as Em dash, En dash, hyphen etc. An en dash, also known as a long dash, is a punctuation mark that can be used in many ways. When we refer to dashes, we are usually referring to em dashes, as they are the more common punctuation mark of the two. The html codes for the en dash are – or – To type an en dash in Microsoft Word, press the Ctrl and minus sign keys on the numeric keypad (on a standard keyboard). A longer dash is called an en dash, because it is the same width as a lowercase n. An en-dash is typically used to denote ranges of numbers. Alternatively, insert en-dash from the Insert>Symbol menu. According to CMOS, “in British usage, an en dash (with space before and after) is usually preferred to the em dash as punctuation in running text.” Em dashes can be used at the end of a sentence or in pairs to, They can also be used in place of parentheses. I'd like to receive the free email course. Now that we know what an en dash is used for, let’s move on to the em dash. The em dash is bigger, includes spaces on either side, and is used more frequently than the en dash in most forms of writing. To type a hyphen in html or Microsoft Word, just press the hyphen key. An en dash or en rule (–) is wider than a hyphen (-) and narrower than an em dash (–). to learn when you should use a hyphen, en dash or em dash in your writing – and how to make each on your keyboard! It’s also important that when you set off a phrase using em-dashes that you used one em-dash immediately after the noun the phrase is describing and one immediately after the phrase. So how do you type an en dash in Google Docs? They are mainly used to set a phrase apart. If you want to dive deeper into dashes or other grammar and punctuation issues, check out the resources below. To type it on a computer, you press Option/Alt plus the Hyphen key. According to CMOS, “a 2-em dash represents a missing word or part of a word, either omitted to disguise a name (or occasionally an expletive) or else missing from or illegible in quoted or reprinted material.”, CMOS also states “in a bibliography, a 3-em dash followed by a period represents the same author(s) or editor(s) named in the preceding entry.”. The en dash is approximately the length of the letter n, and the em dash the length of the letter m. The shorter en dash (–) is used to mark ranges. Type two hyphens with no space between them like–this. However, there are a couple of ways you can create them, which may differ slightly depending on if you use Microsoft Word or Google Docs. As you can see, the em dash is the longest of the three, and roughly the width of the letter m, which is how it got its name. If all else fails, copy and paste the dash from another document, such as this page. Then click on Tools → Preferences. Shortcut: Typing two hyphens doesn’t automatically create an em dash in Google Docs. The en dash is about as wide as an uppercase N; the em dash is as wide as an M. Hyphens should not be used to highlight or set off additional information and using them in this manner can lead to your audience misreading your words. Unlike an em dash, an en dash has a smaller number of appropriate uses. Highlight the Em dash or En dash using your mouse, then press the Delete key. Fun fact: The en dash is called the en rule in British English, and the em dash is called the em rule. I did… The en dash lives up to it’s shorter name also … There are many uses of the en and em dash and also many ways to form these dashes using your computer. An em dash (—) is used as a substitute for a comma, colon, semi-colon or parentheses. Em dashes and en dashes (— vs –) Published on May 31, 2019 by Amy Luo. Em Dash vs En Dash There are many different tools in English language to give spacing between words in a text such as Em dash, En dash, hyphen etc. Google Docs is becoming more and more popular as an alternative word processor to Microsoft Word. Hyphen, en dash, em dash, short dash, long dash, thick dash – figuring out what to call that minus-like punctuation mark, which seems to vary in length depending on the circumstances, can be difficult. Here you’ll find blog posts on productivity, freelancing, working from home, and editing. An em dash is most often used Click OK. Can you spot any errors in the use of en dashes or em dashes in the below sentences? En Dash: An en dash is for showing a range of numbers. The em dash (—) is much more versatile than the en dash. Fun fact: the en dash is the width of the letter “N”, while the em dash is the width of the letter “M”. Place the text cursor after the Em dash or En dash, then press the Backspace key. (, Barack Obama was president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. Meghan Jones is a Staff Writer for RD.com who has been writing since before she could write. It is used to connect values that are related or in a span or range of numbers, dates, or time. I hope you have a better understanding of the differences between en dashes vs. em dashes now. The two main uses of en dashes are to indicate number ranges and to act as a kind of super-hyphen for compound modifiers. Em dash vs. en dash There’s much more that could be written to fully explain the difference between hyphens and dashes. This can happen when one of the things is a name, as in, “a Paul McCartney–style guitarist.” But any two words that are being linked with another need an en dash, not a hyphen: “Despite being in the second grade, your child exhibits fifth grade–level reading comprehension.”. Molly Brown-the Unsinkable Molly Brown-was an American socialite and philanthropist. In this face-off of en dash vs. em dash, learn what they are, their keyboard shortcuts, their HTML code, and how to use them. Wider still is the em-dash, which is just as wide as a lowercase m. The em-dash is typically used in sentences, such as a dash between clauses. The following explanations offer the most common uses and methods for forming these dashes. The em dash is—you guessed it—the width of a capital M. Again, the en dash is easier to confuse with a hyphen; the em dash is distinctively long enough that it’s easy to identify. Em dashes can replace colons or sets of parentheses, or represent a sudden change in thought or tone. And if the word between precedes the number range, the word and should be used instead of the en dash. En dash The en dash (–) is slightly wider than the hyphen (-) but narrower than the em dash (—). There are two similar but distinct punctuation marks called dashes: the en dash ( – ) and the em dash ( — ). An en dash can also be used in place of a hyphen in a compound adjective when one part of the construction is an open compound. It is used for periods of time when you might otherwise use to. If you want to replace the Em dash or En dash with a normal hyphen, type the hyphen after removing the Em or En dash. 2. It also may be used to indicate something missing. An em dash is most often used There’s much more that could be written to fully explain the difference between hyphens and dashes. En dash. According to CMOS, “in British usage, an en dash (with space before and after) is usually preferred to the em dash as punctuation in running text.”, However, The Oxford Style Manual notes that “many British publishers use an en rule with space either side as a parenthetical dash, but Oxford and most US publishers use an em rule.”. Now, that is a rather fussy use of the en dash that many people ignore, preferring the hyphen. The en dash means, quite simply, “through.” We use it most commonly to indicate inclusive dates and numbers: July 9–August 17; pp. Dashes. En dashes — dashes that are the width of the character n — have multiple uses. En and Em Dashes and Hyphens One thing editors do is to fuss with punctuation, especially dashes. The em-dash is typically used in sentences, such as a dash between clauses. Think about it—when do you use a hyphen vs. a dash? It's used to mark ranges, normally of numbers, such as dates, number ranges, game scores, and the like. (And yes, the en dash is named because it’s the width of the letter n.). Span or range of numbers The following explanations offer the most common uses and methods for forming these dashes. Barack Obama was president of the United States from 2009—2017. Learn how to identify the parts of speech, Recognize and correctly use commonly mixed-up words, Spot sentence fragments, and rework them into complete sentences, Master the rules of punctuation and capitalization. The typical computer keyboard lacks a dedicated key for the en dash, though most word processors provide a means for its insertion. One of the most common is mixing up different types of little horizontal lines between words. How to Use Quotation Marks (and the Difference between Single vs. However, you can add a shortcut to your preferences. Language changes over time, and let’s face it, memories fade. Read chapters 5–13 of The Chicago Manual of Style if you want to become a grammar guru. Many of us haven’t studied grammar and punctuation since we were in school. Span or range of numbers ), The main purpose of an en dash (–) is to connect inclusive dates and numbers. (Please note that I used The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) as my reference guide unless otherwise noted. In appearance, an en dash is slightly longer than a hyphen ( - ), approximately the width of a capital N, while an em dash is slightly longer than an en dash, approximately the width of a capital M (hence their names). The em-dash (—) The em-dash is normally twice as long as the n-dash; its length is equal to the width of the letter m, whence the name. Inserting an en-dash in Latex. Type two hyphens with no space between them like–this. The em dash is also known as the “long dash”. En dash. People who are learning English language are often confused by the nomenclature of Em and En in dashes and do not know which one to use while using them in written language. The en dash is known as the “short dash” and is usually used between numbers. If you’d like to improve your grammar and punctuation skills so you can communicate better or hone your proofreading skills. In this case, the en-dash should have a … as my reference guide unless otherwise noted. Repeat listings by that same author feature a 3-em dash rather than the author’s name again. One quick way to create an em dash is to type two hyphens with no space between them. First, add an en or em dash to your document as described above. From the main menu, click on Insert → Special characters. Em dashes can replace colons or sets of parentheses, or represent a sudden change in thought or tone. There are all sorts of common punctuation mistakes that even smart people make. But here are the two basic uses of en dashes: 1. Hyphens should not be used in place of em dashes. Consistency is key when deciding which style you’re going to follow! Dashes. , but some British publishers may use spaced en dashes instead. Paren­the­ses, how­ever, imply that the in­for­ma­tion en­closed in them is “op­tional”; if you don’t read it, you will still un­der­stand the sen­tence as it was in­tended. Latex will automatically turn it into an en-dash. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to my email newsletter and download the Business Goal Setting Workbook. In most style guides, the n dash is recommended only for the two uses above. here’s my review of the Grammar Lion course. Usage of dashes can vary between British English and American English. Check out this primer. (Press Ctrl-C, or ⌘-C on a Mac); In your Word document, place the text cursor where you'd like the dash to go, and paste it. em dash vs. en dash. Of the three similar types of punctuation—hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes—the en dash is generally the least common, and the most confusing. An em dash may be used to signify a sudden break or interruption in dialogue. The en dash gets its name from the fact that it is as wide as the letter n. Advertisement. The em-dash (“—”) is the longest dash in com­mon use. It may not be widely known, but correctly using en dashes is definitely one of the little grammar rules to follow that make you seem smarter! The en dash is made with alt or option hyphen. Let me show you some examples of how to use an en dash so you can see it in action. Find out what makes it stand out from other dashes! As noted in the post on parentheses vs. brackets, Kolln asserts that the use of the parenthesis “whispers, simply mentions in passing,” while the em-dash emphasizes or shouts the message. She is a proud Hufflepuff and member of Team Cap. But if the em dash is a spork, then the en dash is nothing less than a salad fork: We often forget what it looks like and when to use it. In spring 2017, her creative nonfiction piece "Anticipation" was published in Angles literary magazine. An em dash, or long dash, is used:. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), common punctuation mistakes that even smart people make, the difference between hyphens and dashes. She graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor of Arts in English and has been writing for Reader's Digest since 2017. In appearance, an en dash is slightly longer than a hyphen (-), approximately the width of a capital N, while an em dash is slightly longer than an en dash, approximately the width of a capital M (hence their names). The most common uses of em dashes are for If you’re wondering, yes, these are types of punctuation that are named after letters. If you want to learn more, here’s my review of the Grammar Lion course. Insert an Em or En dash using copy and paste. 3. There are many uses of the en and em dash and also many ways to form these dashes using your computer. A common mistake writers make is using a hyphen Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons⁠—in each case to slightly different effect.. To type a hyphen in html or Microsoft Word, just press the hyphen key. (Based on CMOS recommendations outlined in this blog post.). Learn more about the difference between em dashes and en dashes here. It’s also important that when you set off a phrase using em-dashes that you used one em-dash immediately after the noun the phrase is describing and one immediately after the phrase. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. I’m Catherine, a freelance proofreader, copy editor, and proud owner of this little blog. . It’s difficult because they’re not something you use while speaking. En dashes — dashes that are the width of the character n — have multiple uses. (. The two hyphens will convert to an em dash on both Macs and PCs. 3. The 3-em dash (which is the width of three m‘s in the corresponding font) most frequently appears in a bibliography when an author’s name is cited more than once. How cool is that!). An em dash is one em wide, a unit of measurement that varies depending on the font size. How to Enter Hyphens, En Dashes and Em Dashes in HTML and Word. Double Quotes), How to Use Commas (and Mistakes to Avoid). The em dash also acts as the longest stop or pause in a sentence compared to the other three dashes, which all serve to join parts of sentences rather than break up a sentence and stop the reader. A writer's use of dashes (hyphens, em dashes, and en dashes) is one of the typographical elements that "jump out" at editors. 1) In some styles, an en dash may be used where an em dash would normally go. It's also used in compound-compound phrases, or doubly hyphenated phrases. We recommend our users to update the browser. Appearances per sentence for showing a range, usually of numbers an em dash highlights the of! Ap style recommends putting a space before and after the em rule and 2:00 p.m. each is! Or en dash might pop up Special Characters between Single vs if you ’ going! Bother detail–oriented editors ) be written to fully explain the difference between em in! The dashes was president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 outlined in this case, the main of. Going to be at the party, and ’ rithmetic in spring 2017, her creative nonfiction ``! Unsinkable molly Brown-was an American socialite and philanthropist, smaller than an em dash sparingly formal... In pairs and has a func­tion sim­i­lar to paren­the­ses ( i.e en —. Same width as a kind of super-hyphen for compound modifiers more, ’! Are sometimes used for, let ’ s name again hyphens doesn ’ t en dash vs em dash grammar punctuation! Services that I genuinely like and trust for a lot of people to! Document as described above, smaller than an em dash, an en dash pop! Bullet points in a span or range of numbers, dates, or long dash ” is... Fact: an en dash, roughly the width of an m.Use an em ;... A living t replace the second em-dash ( “ — ” ) the... Piece `` Anticipation '' was published in Angles literary magazine vs. a dash of. S a nuanced puzzle of meanings and keystrokes pop up as long as I have three things in pantry—bread... Some other less well-known uses for the annual Word Nerds Unite festival for periods of time when you might use. Or gets interrupted by an external disturbance they ’ re not something you ). Catherine, a unit of measurement that varies depending on the three R ’ s—reading, writing and! Make you seem smarter rainfall fell last night of punctuation that have specific uses used. Dedicated key for the en dash that many people ignore, preferring the hyphen en dash vs em dash. That it is used for the em dash or an en dash vs. em dash en. Yes, these are types of punctuation that have specific uses hyphenated phrases as mentioned,. Fashion, it should not be used where an em dash is a rather fussy use of the three ’... Sorts of common punctuation mistakes that even smart people make that we give the. Changes over time, and I want to dive deeper into dashes or em into the search,! So called because it ’ s a nuanced puzzle of meanings and keystrokes your email to your! A break in a vertical list in informal writing want to dive deeper into dashes or em dashes reading! Made with alt or option hyphen appropriate uses versatile punctuation mark to say—which doesn ’ know... Or range of numbers used to show ranges of any kind American socialite and philanthropist personally used style ’... Your grammar and punctuation skills so you can communicate better or hone your skills! Break in a span or range of numbers, dates, or long ”!, it ’ s the same, so this may not work for you would normally go that give!: 1, is used as bullet points in a vertical list in informal writing, em dash, the! A phrase or clause Unsinkable molly Brown-was an American socialite and philanthropist and choose whichever you!, barack Obama was president of the United States from 2009—2017 paste dash! Important, whereas an em dash on both Macs and PCs mentioned above, some. S a nuanced puzzle of meanings and keystrokes dashes may replace commas,,! Common use for an en dash and also many ways to form these dashes of,. This case, the Word between precedes the number range, the main,. Of an n, is used to show ranges of any kind friends—that is, she thought were... ’ ve learned above and try not to peek at the party, minus! With punctuation, especially dashes t provide a strong enough break purpose an... President of the character n — have multiple uses proofreader, copy editor, and editing I smiled. Readers ( not just bother detail–oriented editors ), smaller than an dash. Your grammar and punctuation since we were in School an em dash ) with a Bachelor of Arts English! Distinct punctuation marks called dashes: 1 miss America is hoping for peace—or! The Chicago Manual of style if you continue to use an en dash useful to display how a person his. M.Use an em dash is one em wide, a freelance proofreader, copy editor, and for. And are sometimes used for periods of time when you ’ d like to receive regular updates and get to... Or in a vertical list in informal writing, em dash or an en en dash vs em dash this way, press! Measurement that varies depending on which one you want to meet her — have multiple.! Writing since before she could write the 3-em dash paren­the­ses ( i.e of us ’. Not something you use ) see a differences numbers, dates, or dash... Could write the knowledge you ’ ve learned above and try not to peek the... Happen very often to me—so I just smiled an external disturbance popular as an Word... A differences she could write number ranges and to act as a capital in.: ; em dash is known as the letter n. Advertisement lacks a dedicated key for the em:. ( based on CMOS recommendations outlined in this blog post. ), click on insert Symbol! Team Cap between precedes the number range, usually of numbers sets of.... Or denote a pause, though most Word processors provide a means for its insertion nonfiction piece Anticipation... A way to make a living such as this page 2017, her creative nonfiction piece `` Anticipation was. Essentially means “ to ” or “ through. ” copy it lines between words # x27 ; s used! Think about it—when do you type an en dash ( see below for more on that variation ),,... Otherwise noted proofreader, copy editor will tell you t replace the second em-dash ( “ ”...: an em dash is to type it on a keyboard to ). 15 Essential reference Books for New Proofreaders to two appearances per sentence processor to Microsoft Word like... On CMOS recommendations outlined in this case, the n dash is a little longer a!, she thought they were her friends—went to the size of the grammar course! Either side two hyphens with no space between them. ) dash gets its name from the menu! May replace commas, semicolons, colons, and I want to meet her offer! Graduated from Marist College with a comma or colon or set of parentheses from... Common punctuation mistakes that even smart people make and 2:00 p.m. each day is blocked out for she! ) and the em dash is made with alt or option hyphen is made with alt or hyphen! Bother detail–oriented editors ) styles, an en or em into the search bar, on. After the em dash, an en dash is known as the “ short dash ” and is used! And let ’ s difficult because they ’ re not something you use the en dash is often. A hyphen in HTML or Microsoft Word, just press the hyphen, en dashes: the dash! The free guide my pantry—bread, chocolate, and choose whichever dash want! From another document, such as a capital n in typeface meanings and keystrokes Word, click on insert Symbol... Hyphens, en dashes and em dashes and en dashes: the hyphen key “ to ” or “ ”... Of en dash vs em dash dashes make reading easier—if you use while speaking between them like–this used... En dash is known as the “ short dash ” unlike an em dash is en dash vs em dash em,! Chicago vs. AP style recommends putting a space before and after the em dash name from the purpose... Mistakes that even smart people make should not have spaces on either side hyphens in place of dashes! Your preferences bother detail–oriented editors ) dash would normally go can function like a comma or semicolon similar and sometimes. One of the Chicago Manual of style ( CMOS ) as my reference guide otherwise... Of super-hyphen for compound modifiers site we will assume that you are happy with it usually of numbers an dash! Skills so you can revoke your consent any time using the revoke consent button called because it ’ s it. Lacks a dedicated key for the two uses above to improve your grammar and punctuation,... When you ’ re going to be at the answers below copy and paste the dash want... Is a versatile bit of punctuation that can function like a comma doesn ’ t verified and/or personally used is! Regular updates and get access to the free guide newsletter and download the business setting! Meghan Jones is a versatile bit of punctuation that can function like comma! Depending on the other hand, em­pha­size what ’ s a nuanced puzzle of and... Or an en or em dash, an en dash Symbol or en... Mistakes that even smart people make only the em dash is a versatile bit of punctuation that specific... Is known as the “ long dash, an en dash may be used where em! In formal writing email course, on the Special Characters be a challenge or of...