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What is an en dash and em dash?
Em dashes and en dashes (— vs –) 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 used to separate extra information or mark a break in a sentence.
How do you type an en dash with an em dash?
1. For Mac: press “option+shift+hyphen key”. Word will automatically convert it to an em-dash. On some Mac keyboards, the option key is called “alt”. For desktop PC: press “alt+ctrl+minus” on the numeric keypad (the number section on the far right of your keyboard).
What is an en dash example?
It can be used in pairs like parentheses ( ) to separate a word or phrase, or it can be used alone to separate one end of the sentence from the main sentence (similar to the use of a colon). There should be no spaces before or after an em dash. Examples: The tea—and I rarely drink tea—was warm and delicious.
How do the dashes em dash and en dash get their names?
Both get their names from their length. An em dash is about as long as the letter “m” (—), whereas an en dash is only about half that length, or the length of the letter “n” (–).
What is en dash used for?
An en dash is a mid-sized dash (longer than a hyphen but shorter than an em dash) that is mostly used to show ranges in numbers and dates. It can also be used for clarity in forming complex compound adjectives. The en dash derives its name from the fact that it is meant to be the same width as the letter N.
What can I use instead of an em dash?
Many word processors will automatically insert an em dash when you type a pair of hyphens. Otherwise, look for an “insert symbol” command. If you are using a typewriter, a pair of hyphens is the closest you can get to an em dash.
How long is an em dash?
The character is called an em dash because it is one em wide, a length that varies depending on the font size. One em is the same length as the font’s height (which is typically measured in points). So in 9-point type, an em dash is nine points wide, while in 24-point type the em dash is 24 points wide.
How do you type an en dash in Google Docs?
- To insert an em dash, an en dash, or any special character in Google Docs in the Chrome desktop browser, choose Insert | Special Characters and search for the item to insert.
- In Google Docs on Android or iOS, long-hold on the hyphen key on your keyboard for access to an en dash, em dash, and bullet character.
What is the use of en dash?
An en dash is a mid-sized dash (longer than a hyphen but shorter than an em dash) that is mostly used to show ranges in numbers and dates. It can also be used for clarity in forming complex compound adjectives.
Do you use an en dash between dates?
The en dash is used to represent a span or range of numbers, dates, or time. There should be no space between the en dash and the adjacent material. If you introduce a span or range with words such as from or between, do not use the en dash.
Where do we use en dash?
When should you use an em dash?
The em dash can be used in place of a colon when you want to emphasize the conclusion of your sentence. The dash is less formal than the colon. After months of deliberation, the jurors reached a unanimous verdict—guilty. The white sand, the warm water, the sparkling sun—this is what brought them to Fiji.
When to use en dash instead of em dash?
En dashes (–) are longer than a hyphen but shorter than a regular (or em) dash. En dashes are used to: designate a range, such as inclusive page numbers, years, dates, and so forth. differentiate between campus locations of a university.
How do you create an em dash in Microsoft Word?
Em dashes can be easily created in Microsoft Word and other word processors by typing two hyphens—without a space—directly after a word and following the hyphens directly with another word, as in this sentence. You can also insert an em dash by selecting it from the Symbols palette or by pressing Alt + 0151.
When do you use a dash in a sentence?
Dashes are about the width of two hyphens. set off a series of items that comes at the beginning of (when the text that follows is a complete sentence) or end of a sentence. set apart explanatory information.
When to use a second dash in parentheses?
Dashes are used inside parentheses, and vice versa, to indicate parenthetical material within parenthetical material. The second dash is omitted if it would immediately precede the closing parenthesis; a closing parenthesis is never omitted.