How to Type an Em Dash

Quick Reference

When to Use an Em Dash

The em dash is a versatile punctuation mark that can replace commas, parentheses, or colons—all depending on context. It's typically used without spaces on either side in American English, though some style guides prefer spaces.

Common uses:

• Setting off a parenthetical phrase—like this one—within a sentence
• Indicating an abrupt break in thought or speech
• Emphasizing a conclusion or explanation

Other Ways to Type an Em Dash

• Microsoft Word (Windows): Ctrl + Alt + - using the minus key on the numeric keypad. Or type 2014 and press Alt + X.
• Word AutoFormat: type two hyphens between words with no spaces — word--word — and keep typing; Word replaces them with an em dash.
• Windows, any app: Win + . opens the emoji panel; the Symbols tab (Ω) → General Punctuation contains — and –.
• Mac smart dashes: in apps that support it (Pages, Notes, Mail, TextEdit), typing -- becomes — when "Use smart quotes and dashes" is on (System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input → Edit).
• Google Docs: Insert → Special characters → search "em dash", or add a substitution in Tools → Preferences → Substitutions (for example --- → —).
• Linux with a Compose key: Compose - - - gives —; Compose - - . gives –.

On Phones and Tablets

• iPhone / iPad: on the numbers keyboard, press and hold the hyphen key, then slide to —. With Smart Punctuation on (Settings → General → Keyboard), typing -- also becomes —.
• Android (Gboard): tap ?123, then press and hold the hyphen to choose —, – or other dashes.

Spacing & Look-alikes

Style guides disagree about spacing. Chicago and most US book publishers close it up — this—like this. AP style (common in journalism) puts a space on each side — this — like this. Many British publishers use a spaced en dash instead — this – like this. Pick one convention and use it consistently.

Don't confuse the em dash with similar characters:

• - hyphen (U+002D) — joins words: *well-known*
• – en dash (U+2013) — ranges: *pages 10–15*. See the en dash guide.
• − minus sign (U+2212, −) — arithmetic: *−5 °C*
• ⸺ two-em dash (U+2E3A) and ⸻ three-em dash (U+2E3B) — omitted letters or repeated author names in bibliographies

In Code & Markup

• LaTeX: three hyphens --- produce an em dash; two -- produce an en dash.
• Markdown: plain Markdown leaves --- alone (on its own line it is a horizontal rule). Renderers with SmartyPants-style typography convert --- inside text to —.
• CSS / JavaScript: "\2014" in CSS content, "\u2014" in JavaScript, Python and JSON.

Technical Details

Related Symbols