To better understand how to use an em dash correctly, compare the examples below. Then, you can use the Alt codes to create your dashes.įor more information about creating other dashes and em dashes on various toolbars and operating systems, check out this extensive guide on Wikipedia. Copy and paste: You can always find an em dash with a Google search and simply copy and paste it into our document if you’re rushed for time.Īnother idea that works is plugging a portable USB number keypad into your laptop.Then, copy and paste it into your word processing program or document. The character map on your operating system: From the search function, type in the phrase “character map.” A symbol grid will pop up, and you can select your dash from there.Microsoft Word and Scrivener: Use the same technique described above for Google Docs.The two hyphens will change automatically to an em dash. Google Docs: Type two hyphens and then hit the space bar.Unicode character codes: 2014+Alt+x (these codes won’t work in Gmail, Scrivener or Google Docs).You can plug in a full-sized keyboard or use one of the following techniques. If you’re working on a compact PC laptop, standard keyboard shortcuts may not work for you. Shift-Alt-hyphen or Command + M Workarounds for Laptops The easiest way is to use one of these keyboard shortcuts on your computer, depending on whether you use a Windows PC or a Mac. There are several ways to create an em dash when you’re working on a computer. Here is an example of how newspapers use a single space on both sides of the em dash.Įxample: Many newspapers - especially those using “The Associated Press Stylebook” - put a space on either side of the em dash.Įqually important is knowing the difference between em dash vs en dash, and you never want to confuse either of these dashes with a hyphen. If you’re writing journalism, it helps to know that most major newspapers which follow “The Associated Press Stylebook” add a space on both sides of the em dash. If writers overuse the em dash, they run the risk of confusing their readers. One thing to keep in mind is that usage of the em dash should be limited to no more than two appearances for every sentence. It can also signal interruptions or help to amplify an idea. The role of the em dash is to set off a clause or single word and add emphasis. In short, people who love language and writing tend to have strong opinions about the em dash. In fact, the “New York Times” has even called the em dash the “bad boy, or cool girl, of punctuation,” adding that this controversial punctuation mark is a “rebel without a clause” and a “freewheeling scofflaw.” Another hot debate is the overuse of the em dash. The em dash enjoys a bit of a cult following, and many writers enjoy debating its many uses. Depending on how a writer uses an em dash, slightly different effects will result. You can even use an em dash in place of quotation marks in certain instances. It depends on the context the writer is going for, but an em dash can be used in place of parentheses, commas, or colons. When it comes to punctuation marks, the beloved em dash is one of the most versatile. Specifically, an em dash is about the width of an uppercase letter M. An em dash is a punctuation mark that looks like a hyphen but is wider.
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