#Em dash symbol how to
#Em dash symbol pro

How to type an em dash using a keyboard shortcut

This is where the em dash comes into play.Ĭensored, omitted, or unknown characters can be replaced with an em dash. Sometimes in a sentence, you’ll need punctuation to indicate a change in direction or thought. This is best when the sentence begins with the list. You can add emphasis to parts of your writing by using an em dash in place of parentheses in a sentence.Īn em dash can be used to draw attention to a list. Em dashes and en dashes have different uses, so we’ll be sharing different examples of each. You can’t talk about dashes without mentioning em dashes and en dashes. When you attach the prefixes all, self, or ex to the beginning of a word, you’ll need to use a hyphen. Whether a number is spelled out or written as digits, you need a hyphen if it’s part of a compound adjective and followed by a noun. Here are some examples:Ĭertain numbers, specifically those between 21 and 99, should be hyphenated when spelled out, such as at the beginning of a sentence Hyphenated compound words are common compound words with hyphens between them.

Here’s an example:Īnother time to skip the hyphen is if the modifier consists of an adjective and an adverb. This only works if the noun comes after the words acting as an adjective.īe aware of where the noun is placed so you know if the words need a hyphen. Essentially, two words are brought together to act as a single adjective. Here are the different times you’ll need to use a hyphen and examples of each.Ĭonnecting two words with a hyphen can be done with compound modifiers. There are multiple scenarios in English grammar where hyphens are necessary.

#Em dash symbol pro

Pro tip: Want to tell the em dash and en dash apart by sight? An em dash is about the same width as the letter M, and the en dash is just about the same width as the letter N. Included with words or numbers, an en dash looks like: 2008–2012Īnd as part of a sentence, here’s what an en dash looks like: She was enrolled in the 2008–2012 class. But em dashes and en dashes look a bit different.Īn em dash used in action looks like this: colors - red.Īnd here’s an em dash as part of a sentence: His room is painted two colors - red and white.Īn en dash is a bit shorter and looks a little different in use.

What does a dash look like?Īs mentioned above, a dash is a bit longer than a hyphen. Here’s what a hyphen looks like with actual words: one-fourthĪnd used in a sentence: Use the one-fourth cup to measure the flour. What does a hyphen look like?Ī hyphen is a straight line of punctuation that looks just like this: (-) If you see a long, straight line breaking up words in a sentence, then it’s likely a dash and not a hyphen. This is true for both em dashes and en dashes. Which is longer - a hyphen or a dash?Ī dash is longer than a hyphen. A hyphen is its own thing and shouldn’t be interchanged with other dashes. Hyphens: A hyphen is a punctuation mark that’s most commonly used to join compound nouns or a compound noun and a gerund into a single word - for example, dog-friendly restaurants or speedy check-ins. We’ll go into detail about these two later in this guide. There are two types of dashes: the em dash and the en dash. They essentially stand for a pause or a range. Here’s what the two punctuation marks boil down to:ĭashes: A dash is used to separate words or groups of words. And you’ll need to know how to tell them apart. Hyphens and dashes may look similar, but they serve different purposes. What’s the difference between dashes and hyphens? In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about hyphens and dashes, including examples of each. However, their subtle differences can completely change the meaning of a sentence.įor instance, do you know which one was used in the first sentence of this article? It’s an em dash. Hyphens and dashes - they look a lot alike.