Em Dash Shortcut

by C.K. MacLeod

Jan 09, 2020 The em dash, which is used to break up sentences in a similar way to parentheses, can be made by holding down the “Control” and “Alt” keys, and pressing the dash key. If you’re using a mac, hold down the “Option” key and press dash to make an en dash. Aug 19, 2020 The em dash keyboard shortcut differs depending on if you're using a Mac or PC.; On a PC, you can use an Emoji keyboard or type the 'Alt Code,' Alt + 0151. On a Mac, you simply need to use the.

Updated on January 14, 2017.

I have all-in-one laptop that weighs the same as a tablet. It’s a marvel of a machine except for one thing: because it doesn’t have a numeric keypad (less keyboard = better portability), I cannot create em dashes (—) and en dashes (–) in my usual way.

(You know there are three kinds of dashes in written English, right? Use them correctly in your writing and you will impress a copyeditor!)

1. Use built-in keyboard shortcuts.

On a regular-size keyboard with a number keypad, I can use keyboard shortcuts to create em dashes and en dashes:

• Em dash (—): Alt+0151
• En dash (–): Alt+0150

In Microsoft Word:

• Em dash (—): Alt+Ctrl+ - (minus)
• En dash (–): Ctrl + - (minus)

Mac users use these shortcuts:*

• Em dash (—): Shift-Alt-hyphen or Command + M
• En dash (–): Alt-hyphen

My usual keyboard shortcuts don’t work on my portable laptop, though. Here are few workarounds:

2. Plug in a full-size external keyboard or keypad.

This option will only be appealing to you if you tend to use your laptop like a desktop.

For editing documents, I like to plug my laptop into a massive monitor and attach a wireless mouse and full-size keyboard, complete with a number keypad.

Alternatively, you can plug in a portable USB number keypad and use your laptop keyboard and touchpad. With this set-up, there are no problems creating em and en dashes in my usual way—using Alt codes.

But what if you prefer to use your laptop on-the-go, as it’s intended? Read on…

3. Use Unicode character codes.

Most compact PC laptop keyboards won’t allow you to use Alt codes to create em dashes and en dashes, but you can use Unicode character codes in most instances:

• Em dash: 2014+Alt+x
• En dash: 2013+Alt+x

You can look up other Unicode character codes here.

Note: Keyboard shortcuts using Unicode character codes don’t work in Scrivener, Gmail, or Google docs. For these programs, try one of the options that follow.

4. Use your word processor’s built-in autocorrect function.

In Google Docs, if you type two hyphens followed by a space, those two hyphens will be changed to an em dash. Out of the box, Word and Scrivener will do the same.

There isn’t an autocorrect option out of the box for an en dash, though. So, you can try this:

In Word 2010 and up, go to Tools, Options, Proofing, and click on the AutoCorrect Options button.

Select the AutoCorrect tab and add these keyboard shortcuts:

• Replace: .em With: —
• Replace .en With: –

Now each time you type .em (dot em) in Microsoft Word, it will be replaced by an em dash, and .en will give you an en dash.

If you want to do the same in Scrivener, go to Tool, Options, Corrections, Edit Substitutions. In Google Docs, go to Tools, Preferences.

5. Use your operating system’s character map.

Using you operating system’s search function, type in “character map.” A grid with symbols will pop up, and you can select the em dash or en dash and copy and paste it into your document. In Scrivener, you can access your operating system’s character map by going to Edit, Character Map. In Word 2010 and up, you’ll need to go to Insert, Symbol. In Google Docs, go to Insert, Special Characters.

Be Efficient

Em Dash Shortcut

There are many ways to create em dashes and en dashes on your laptop. If your only option is to use the character map (the least efficient option), consider inserting two hyphens for em dashes in your document for now. You can then use your word processor’s find and replace function to replace the hyphens with the correct symbol later.

Do you use a Mac? Let us know how you insert em dashes and en dashes into your writing in the comments section below.

*Thanks to John Espirian and Geri J. for suggesting keyboard shortcuts for Mac users.

Image by Dennis Skley

Everything you've ever wanted to know about dashes

If you're confused about the various types of dashes and when to use them, you're not alone. Figuring out whether to use an en dash, em dash, 2 em dashes, or even (gasp!) 3 em dashes can be confusing. Let's take a look at the different types of dashes and when to use these little punctuation marks.

En dash

In ranges

The en dash (–) gets its name because it's the same width as the letter N. It is generally used in place of 'to' for connecting numbers in ranges, although it can also connect words (in which case, it means 'through'). For example,

• David Foster Wallace (1962–2008)
• May–October
• 25–45°C
• The Packers won 21–14.

Note that an en dash should not be used for negative numbers, and that there should be no spaces before or after it. It should also not be used when the number or word is preceded by from or between (from…to, or between…and). So, the following sentences are correct:

• The temperature is 32–45°F.
• The park is open May–October.
• The temperature is between 32 and 45°F.
• The park is open from May to October.

However, these uses are incorrect:

• The temperature is between 32–45°F.
• The park is open from May–October.

Instead of a hyphen

The en dash can be used when joining compound modifiers where at least one of the words is an open compound (meaning not hyphenated) or is already hyphenated. For example,

• New York–Tel Aviv connection
• Mother-of-the-bride–approved dresses
• Post–October Revolution politics

Creating an en dash

Creating an en dash can be done by either:

• [ctrl] and the minus sign on the numpad or
• [alt] 0150 (on the numpad)

Em dash

The em dash (— or -- [on an old-fashioned typewriter]) is the most commonly used type of dash and is often simply referred to as a dash. It gets its name—no big surprise here—because it's the width of an M. This punctuation mark is used primarily in informal writing in place of a comma, colon, semicolon, or parentheses to provide emphasis.

Set off parenthetical elements/explain

How To Insert Em Dash Word

When I was driving—well, asleep at the wheel—I got into an accident.

Em Dash Shortcut Key

The em dash in this example could be substituted with parentheses, but not a comma because commas cannot be used to set off parenthetical expressions when there is internal punctuation (commas inside the expressions), as can be seen in the following example.

When I was driving, well, asleep at the wheel, we got into an accident.

Sudden turn in thought/break in dialogue

'Mary, How could—Why would you do such a thing?'

'Can I finish my—,' the child pleaded.

'No! Get over here right now,' his mother shouted.

Unknown values in a table

An em dash can be used in place of an unknown value in a table.

Em Dash Shortcut Chromebook

Creating an em dash

Em Dash Shortcut Mac

Creating an em dash can be done by either:

• [ctrl] [alt] and the minus sign on the numbers pad or
• [alt] 0151 (on the numpad)

2 em dash

The 2 em dash can be used to indicate missing letters in a word, either because material is missing or illegible, or to conceal a name. For example,

Mr. H—— and Mr. S—— entered into a legal agreement.

3 em dashes

These are used in bibliographies when the author's name is repeated.

———. Adventures in Fancy. New York: Labadie & Sons. 2010.

Alternatively, you can plug in a portable USB number keypad and use your laptop keyboard and touchpad. With this set-up, there are no problems creating em and en dashes in my usual way—using Alt codes.

But what if you prefer to use your laptop on-the-go, as it’s intended? Read on…

3. Use Unicode character codes.

Most compact PC laptop keyboards won’t allow you to use Alt codes to create em dashes and en dashes, but you can use Unicode character codes in most instances:

• Em dash: 2014+Alt+x
• En dash: 2013+Alt+x

You can look up other Unicode character codes here.

Note: Keyboard shortcuts using Unicode character codes don’t work in Scrivener, Gmail, or Google docs. For these programs, try one of the options that follow.

4. Use your word processor’s built-in autocorrect function.

In Google Docs, if you type two hyphens followed by a space, those two hyphens will be changed to an em dash. Out of the box, Word and Scrivener will do the same.

There isn’t an autocorrect option out of the box for an en dash, though. So, you can try this:

In Word 2010 and up, go to Tools, Options, Proofing, and click on the AutoCorrect Options button.

Select the AutoCorrect tab and add these keyboard shortcuts:

• Replace: .em With: —
• Replace .en With: –

Now each time you type .em (dot em) in Microsoft Word, it will be replaced by an em dash, and .en will give you an en dash.

If you want to do the same in Scrivener, go to Tool, Options, Corrections, Edit Substitutions. In Google Docs, go to Tools, Preferences.

5. Use your operating system’s character map.

Using you operating system’s search function, type in “character map.” A grid with symbols will pop up, and you can select the em dash or en dash and copy and paste it into your document. In Scrivener, you can access your operating system’s character map by going to Edit, Character Map. In Word 2010 and up, you’ll need to go to Insert, Symbol. In Google Docs, go to Insert, Special Characters.

Be Efficient

Em Dash Shortcut

There are many ways to create em dashes and en dashes on your laptop. If your only option is to use the character map (the least efficient option), consider inserting two hyphens for em dashes in your document for now. You can then use your word processor’s find and replace function to replace the hyphens with the correct symbol later.

Do you use a Mac? Let us know how you insert em dashes and en dashes into your writing in the comments section below.

*Thanks to John Espirian and Geri J. for suggesting keyboard shortcuts for Mac users.

Image by Dennis Skley

Everything you've ever wanted to know about dashes

If you're confused about the various types of dashes and when to use them, you're not alone. Figuring out whether to use an en dash, em dash, 2 em dashes, or even (gasp!) 3 em dashes can be confusing. Let's take a look at the different types of dashes and when to use these little punctuation marks.

En dash

In ranges

The en dash (–) gets its name because it's the same width as the letter N. It is generally used in place of 'to' for connecting numbers in ranges, although it can also connect words (in which case, it means 'through'). For example,

• David Foster Wallace (1962–2008)
• May–October
• 25–45°C
• The Packers won 21–14.

Note that an en dash should not be used for negative numbers, and that there should be no spaces before or after it. It should also not be used when the number or word is preceded by from or between (from…to, or between…and). So, the following sentences are correct:

• The temperature is 32–45°F.
• The park is open May–October.
• The temperature is between 32 and 45°F.
• The park is open from May to October.

However, these uses are incorrect:

• The temperature is between 32–45°F.
• The park is open from May–October.

Instead of a hyphen

The en dash can be used when joining compound modifiers where at least one of the words is an open compound (meaning not hyphenated) or is already hyphenated. For example,

• New York–Tel Aviv connection
• Mother-of-the-bride–approved dresses
• Post–October Revolution politics

Creating an en dash

Creating an en dash can be done by either:

• [ctrl] and the minus sign on the numpad or
• [alt] 0150 (on the numpad)

Em dash

The em dash (— or -- [on an old-fashioned typewriter]) is the most commonly used type of dash and is often simply referred to as a dash. It gets its name—no big surprise here—because it's the width of an M. This punctuation mark is used primarily in informal writing in place of a comma, colon, semicolon, or parentheses to provide emphasis.

Set off parenthetical elements/explain

How To Insert Em Dash Word

When I was driving—well, asleep at the wheel—I got into an accident.

Em Dash Shortcut Key

The em dash in this example could be substituted with parentheses, but not a comma because commas cannot be used to set off parenthetical expressions when there is internal punctuation (commas inside the expressions), as can be seen in the following example.

When I was driving, well, asleep at the wheel, we got into an accident.

Sudden turn in thought/break in dialogue

'Mary, How could—Why would you do such a thing?'

'Can I finish my—,' the child pleaded.

'No! Get over here right now,' his mother shouted.

Unknown values in a table

An em dash can be used in place of an unknown value in a table.

Em Dash Shortcut Chromebook

Creating an em dash

Em Dash Shortcut Mac

Creating an em dash can be done by either:

• [ctrl] [alt] and the minus sign on the numbers pad or
• [alt] 0151 (on the numpad)

2 em dash

The 2 em dash can be used to indicate missing letters in a word, either because material is missing or illegible, or to conceal a name. For example,

Mr. H—— and Mr. S—— entered into a legal agreement.

3 em dashes

These are used in bibliographies when the author's name is repeated.

———. Adventures in Fancy. New York: Labadie & Sons. 2010.

Overall, dashes—especially en and em dashes—are useful tools writers should master. To learn more about the correct use of dashes and other punctuation marks, check out GrammarCamp, a proven grammar training course.

Image source: Francesco Gallarottie/Stocksnap.io