In a previous post, I explained how we use hyphens like harnesses to connect words that are working together to modify a noun. Now to tackle the difference between the much more easily confused en dashes (–) and em dashes (—).
Remember, en dashes are the width of a typical capital “N,” or the length of two hyphens, while em dashes are slightly longer—about the width of a capital “M” or three hyphens—and you won’t use spaces before or after any hyphens or dashes.
Every keyboard and computer has a different way of making en and em dashes, so my suggestion is that you add them to your autocorrect settings.
- In Google Docs, go to Tools > Preferences > Substitutions.
- In the “Replace” box, type two hyphens; in the “With” box, paste an en dash copied from this post or an online search.
- Then, type three hyphens in the “Replace” box and copy/paste an em dash into the “With” box.
- In Microsoft Word, go to File > Options (way down at the bottom) > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options and repeat the steps above.
EN DASHES
En dashes are easy! They’re most commonly used to show a range of times, dates, or other numbers, like pages.
A LOT of people mistakenly use hyphens instead of en dashes in date and time ranges. Does it affect meaning? No. So, does it really matter? Not really 😉
- Ex.
- 2019–2020
- October–April
- We’re open Monday–Friday from 9 AM–5 PM
- Please read pages 101–142.
A less common use of the en dash is in place of a hyphen when connecting a multi-word noun (usually a name) to an adjective or prefix:
- Ex.
- The Nobel Prize–winning journalist
- pre–World War II architecture
EM DASHES
Some say that dashes are super-strong commas or copycat parentheses. Either way, they set off a phrase or clause, either in the middle of the sentence—as I’m showing here—or at the end. For example, an em dash can be used to add additional information—like this.
Em dashes often indicate a break in thought with more emphasis than commas or parentheses.
- Ex.
- When their boxes were finally delivered—nearly six months after they’d been promised—the family decided maybe they could live with fewer things after all.
Parentheses and commas are more subtle, adding information as an aside, whereas dashes draw attention.
- Ex.
- Exchange programs—especially those with an international focus—are a great learning opportunity for students and their host families.
You can also use an em dash in place of a colon to introduce something with more emphasis.
- Ex.
- She wasn’t sure what the cat loved more—sleeping or eating.
- He thought he’d packed everything he needed, but he forgot the most important thing—his passport!
Colons, parentheses, and commas are often the better choice for formal writing; just like you wouldn’t write in ALL CAPS in an academic essay, you should carefully consider if em dashes are appropriate for your format. But they are also a great way to add clarity and emphasis—especially when writing for the web.
Want to test yourself? Take a short quiz on hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes by scrolling to the bottom of this page. You’ll also find lots of additional examples.