Em Dash Symbol (—)

About the Em Dash Symbol

The em dash (—) is the longest of the three main dashes (hyphen, en dash, and em dash). Its name comes from typography, where it was traditionally the width of the letter "M". This versatile punctuation mark can be used to signal an abrupt break in thought, add emphasis, or set off parenthetical information.

Em Dash Example

The em dash is incredibly useful—if you know how to use it. Here are a few examples:

For a break in thought: "I was going to finish my work, but then—oh, look, a squirrel!"
For emphasis: "There was only one thing she wanted—revenge."
Instead of parentheses: "All the ingredients—flour, sugar, and eggs—were on the counter."

How to Type the Em Dash on Your Keyboard

Typing an em dash isn't as straightforward as a hyphen, but it's easy once you know the shortcuts for your device.

How to Type Em Dash on Windows

With a Numpad: Hold down the Alt key and type 0151 on the numeric keypad. This is the official ASCII em dash code.
Without a Numpad: If your keyboard lacks a numpad, the easiest way is to copy it from this page. Alternatively, you can use the Windows Character Map or press Windows Key + . to open the emoji keyboard, go to the symbols tab (Ω), and find the em dash under punctuation.

How to Type Em Dash on Mac

Typing an em dash on a Mac is simple. Use the following keyboard shortcut:

Option + Shift + - (Hyphen)

How to Type Em Dash in Word

Microsoft Word has a handy auto-format feature and a built-in shortcut:

Auto-format: Type two hyphens between two words, without spaces (e.g., word--word), and Word will automatically convert them into an em dash.
Keyboard Shortcut: Press Ctrl + Alt + - (the minus key on the numeric keypad).

What About the En Dash (–)?

The en dash (–), or "medium dash," is longer than a hyphen but shorter than an em dash. Its primary use is to indicate a range or connection between two things.