Long dash in word

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To insert an em dash, click where you want to insert the em dash and then press Ctrl + Alt + – (minus sign on the numeric keypad). To insert an en dash, click where you want to insert the en dash and then press Ctrl + – (minus sign on the numeric keypad).

How do you type a long dash?

For an em-dash, hold down the Alt key and type 0151, then release the Alt key. That’s it! For an en-dash, hold down the Alt key and type 0150, then release the Alt key.

How do I make an em dash in Word?

3. 1. Inserting an em-dash in Word

1. For Mac: press “option+shift+hyphen key”.
2. For desktop PC: press “alt+ctrl+minus” on the numeric keypad (the number section on the far right of your keyboard).

How do you make a long dash on a laptop?

To make an em dash, press and hold Alt, then type 0151.

What is the longer dash called?

em dash
The dash (—), also called the em dash, is the long horizontal bar, much longer than a hyphen. Few keyboards have a dash, but a word processor can usually produce one in one way or another.

How do you type an em dash on a keyboard?

Make an em dash or en dash with a keyboard shortcut
less simple: you need to use an alt code to get an em dash. If you have a numeric keyboard, hold down the Alt key and type 0151 for an em dash or 0150 for an en dash.

How do you use an em dash example?

1. Use em dashes in place of commas or parentheses to create a break in a sentence. Examples: Please call my lawyer—Richard Smith—on Tuesday.
2. Use an em dash like a colon or semicolon to create emphasis. A) In place of a colon:
3. Use an em dash to show a sudden change of thought. Examples:

Which dash is about half the length of an em dash?

en dash
Despite its name, the en dash has more in common with the hyphen than with the em dash. In fact, it helps to think of the en dash, which is half the length of the em, as a variant of the hyphen.

How do I make a long dash in Google Docs?

While in a Google Doc on Chrome, on any laptop or desktop computer, go to Insert | Special Characters and type Em Dash in the search box. The first search result shown in the grid of characters will be the em dash; select it to insert it. You can also search, select, and insert an em dash (Figure A).

What does a long dash between words mean?

An em dash is most often used to indicate a pause in a sentence. It’s stronger than a comma, but weaker than a period or semicolon.

What is the long dash used for?

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 and with the meaning “to” in phrases like “Dover–Calais crossing.” The longer em dash (—) is used to separate extra information or mark a break in a sentence.

How do I type an en dash in Windows?

To create an En dash, use the shortcut key combination Ctrl + – . Num Lock must be enabled and you need to use the minus key on the numeric keypad.

What does an em dash look like?

It can add a spice—or a dash, if you will—to a sentence by adding emphasis to certain words and phrases. I am talking about the em-dash, which looks like two hyphens connected into one long line. Depending on the sentence, the em-dash can have a similar function to parentheses, colons, commas, and even semicolons.

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.

What is the difference between a short dash and a long dash?

Long dashes — what grammarians call em dashes — are dramatic. Those long straight lines draw your eye and hold your attention.Short dashes show a range or connect words when the word to or and is implied.

How do you type an em dash on a Chromebook?

In the menu at the top, click Insert then Special Characters. In the next window, set options on left to Punctuation and on right to Dash/Connector. Select em dash and close the window. The em dash is inserted.

How do you use a dash in writing?

Do not confuse a dash (—) with a hyphen (-), which is shorter.

1. Use a dash to show a pause or break in meaning in the middle of a sentence:
2. Use a dash to show an afterthought:
3. Use a dash like a colon to introduce a list:
4. Use a dash to show that letters or words are missing:

What is an Em Dash (or Long Dash)?

An em dash or long dash, also known as, is a versatile punctuation mark used to divide a written body of work into sentences, clauses, etc.— it represents a comfortable pause in a sentence. Depending on the circumstances, an em dash can take the place of punctuation marks such as commas, colons, or parenthesis (when a clause or phrase is positioned into a sentence to act as a clarification or a reconsideration). 

The Typography of an Em Dash 

It is the longest dash (—) without any extra space before or after the symbol and not to be confused with the narrower en dash (–) or the hyphen symbol (-). 

When to Use

When you decide to use an em dash instead of a punctuation mark, it must be noted that you can achieve a slightly different effect to the context of intent. Use the em dash with discretion by restricting the appearance to twice only to achieve a cohesive, structured sentence.

1. Using the Formula: Alt 0151 

(This formula is also the shortcut for Windows)

• Type a sentence and place the insertion cursor where you would need. The blinking insertion cursor would indicate the position.
• On either side of your keyboard’s spacebar, you will find the Alt keys situated.
• Select one Alt key and press down whilst using the keyboard’s numeric keypad to type the code: 0151.
• Release the Alt key, and the em dash would be appearing in the right position.
• However, should you have a Laptop without a numeric keypad, this might prove not easy unless you activate the on-screen keyboard and press the Fn+NmLk keystrokes as an alternative.

1. Using the Copy and Paste Commands 

• Symbol to copy: —
• Highlight the above symbol (—) with your insertion cursor, then press the Ctrl+C key. This will make a copy,
• locate the position where you want to insert the em dash, place the insertion cursor, and press Ctrl+V keys—allowing you to paste the symbol in the correct place.

1. Using the Microsoft Word Insert Tab

• The insert tab can be located on the top ribbon of your opened Word document.
• Using the insertion cursor, place in the body of text where you would need an em dash inserted.
• Go to the Insert tab situated on the top ribbon, click to open a dropdown menu, to the far right, you will find an omega character Ω and the word Symbol next to it.
• Click on the Symbols tab, a dropdown menu will appear. At the bottom of that dialogue box, you need to select the More Symbols button.
• A vast library of symbols in a dialogue box will appear on the screen.
• There are two tabs on the top: Symbols and Special Characters—check that the Symbols tab is activated.
• Use the scrolling sidebar and scroll down about two-thirds to find a row of symbols that start with a hyphen, figure dash, en dash, em dash, and horizontal bar.
• You will know the names of the symbols when you highlight a symbol square the Unicode Name (just below the Recently Used Symbols bar) of the symbol will display the symbol name.
• Highlight the em dash box with your insertion cursor, then click on the Insert button bottom right.
• Alternatively, when you click on the Special Characters tab, you will find the em dash listed on the top.
• Using your insertion cursor, highlight the em dash description line, then click on the Insert button bottom right.
• Close all the dialog boxes and return to your text. The em dash will be in the right position.

1. Using the AutoFormat Feature in Word

• The Autoformat feature will automatically format the associated styles of text as you type.
• Using the insertion cursor, click on the first tab: File in an opened Microsoft Word document.
• On the left navigation bar near the bottom, you will find the Options button.
• Another dialog window will open. Click on the Proofing option.
• Click on the AutoCorrect Options that will open another dialog box.
• There are two tabs: AutoFormat and Actions, and each of these tabs has subtabs under them.
• Under the Actions, the tab is the AutoFormat As You Type tab. Once you have opened this tab, check that the Hyphens (–) with a dash (—) has been checked. 
• Select the OK tab.
• Proceed to close all the dialog boxes and return them to your Word document.
• Should you now type two hyphens (–), Word will automatically change this to an (—).

1. Deleting an Em Dash

• Place your insertion cursor on the right side of the em dash and press the Backspace key.

Insert an Em or En Dash in Microsoft Word using the Ribbon or Keyboard Shortcuts

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated March 3, 2023

Applies to: Microsoft^® Word^® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 or 365 (Windows)

You can insert an em dash or en dash in a Microsoft Word document using the Insert Symbol command or by using keyboard shortcuts. An em dash is a long dash which is the width of the letter m. An en dash is the width of the letter n.

The dashes appear as follows:

• Em dash (—)
• En dash (–)
• Dash or hyphen (-)

Recommended article: How to Keep Text Together in Microsoft Word

1. Insert an em or en dash using Insert Symbol

You can use the Insert Symbol command to insert special characters in Word documents.

To insert an em or en dash using Insert Symbol:

1. Click where you want to insert the em dash or en dash.
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears. In Word, there are two tabs at the top of the dialog box.
5. Click the Special Characters tab.
6. Click Em Dash or En Dash.
7. Click Insert.
8. Click Close.

Below is the Insert Symbol dialog box in Word:

2. Insert an em or en dash using Ctrl and keyboard shortcuts

To insert an em dash, click where you want to insert the em dash and then press Ctrl + Alt + – (minus sign on the numeric keypad).

To insert an en dash, click where you want to insert the en dash and then press Ctrl + – (minus sign on the numeric keypad).

If this doesn’t work, press NumLock on the numeric keypad.

3. Insert an em or en dash using AutoFormat as you type

There are built-in options that are turned on by default in AutoCorrect in the AutoFormat as you type settings.

To insert an em dash using AutoFormat as you type:

1. Type a word with no space after it.
2. Type two dashes or hyphens with no space between or after them.
3. Type another word.
4. Press the Spacebar.

To insert an en dash using AutoFormat as you type:

1. Type a word.
2. Press the Spacebar.
3. Type a single dash or hyphen.
4. Press the spacebar.
5. Type another word.
6. Press the Spacebar.

4. Insert an em or en dash using Alt and keyboard shortcuts

You can also use the Alt key in combination with a sequence of numbers of insert an em dash or en dash.

To insert an em dash, click where you want to insert the em dash and then press and hold Alt and then type 8212 on the numeric keypad.

To insert an en dash, click where you want to insert the en dash and then press and hold Alt and then type 8211 on the numeric keypad.

If this doesn’t work, press NumLock on the numeric keypad.

The Alt keyboard shortcuts will work in multiple programs but the other shortcuts will work only in Microsoft Word.

This article was first published on July 22, 2020 and has been updated for clarity and content.

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Fortunately, there are three easy methods:

1. Press [Ctrl]+[Alt]+-.
2. Hold down the [Alt] key and type 0151 on the numeric keypad.
3. Choose Symbol from the Insert menu, click the Special Characters tab, highlight the em dash, and click Insert.

What is the difference between long and short dash?

Long dashes — what grammarians call em dashes — are dramatic. Those long straight lines draw your eye and hold your attention. Short dashes show a range or connect words when the word to or and is implied.

How do you do a long 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 should a dash be used in writing?

1. To set off material for emphasis. Think of dashes as the opposite of parentheses. Where parentheses indicate that the reader should put less emphasis on the enclosed material, dashes indicate that the reader should pay more attention to the material between the dashes.

The dash (—) is a mark of punctuation used to set off a word or phrase after an independent clause or a parenthetical remark (words, phrases, or clauses that interrupt a sentence). “A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a ​comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than ​parentheses.”

What are these called –?

These { } have a variety of names; they are called braces, curly brackets, or squiggly brackets.

How do you use an em dash example?

Use em dashes in place of commas or parentheses to create a break in a sentence. Examples: Please call my lawyer—Richard Smith—on Tuesday. This sentence could also be written with commas or parentheses.

Can you use just one em dash?

Use Em Dashes to Set Off Parenthetical Information For this usage, make sure you use two em dashes. Use one before the parenthetical information and one after it. Putting spaces before and after an em dash is a matter of preference; just be consistent.

Do you capitalize after an em dash?

Em dashes are longer and have no spaces before or after—like this. You can make them in word processors by typing two hyphens immediately after a word and not putting a space before the next word. So to recap: don’t capitalize after the dash, and make sure there are no spaces before or after your em dashes.

How do you make an em dash on your phone?

Tap and hold the dash key (“-“), for example, and you’ll find an em dash (“—”), while long-pressing the dollar sign (“$”) reveals symbols for the euro, the Japanese yen, and the British pound, among others.

How do I add symbols to my Android keyboard?

3. Does your device come with an emoji add-on waiting to be installed?

1. Open your Settings menu.
2. Tap on “Language and Input.”
3. Go to “Android Keyboard” (or “Google Keyboard”).
4. Click on “Settings.”
5. Scroll down to “Add-on Dictionaries.”
6. Tap on “Emoji for English Words” to install it.

Is a dash a symbol?

The dash is a punctuation mark that is similar in appearance to the hyphen and minus sign but differs from these symbols in length and, in some fonts, height above the baseline.

Is Dash a special character?

A special character is a character that is not an alphabetic or numeric character….Keyboard special characters.

How do you type a minus sign?

If you want to insert a ‘proper’ minus sign in Word, here’s how: Go to ‘insert’ / ‘symbol’ / ‘more symbols’. This opens a tool showing all of the characters for every font on your computer.

What is Dash example?

A dash can be used between times and dates. (A dash will usually replace the words from…to or between…and.) For example: USSR existed 1922–1991….(1) Using Dashes with Ranges (e.g., Times and Dates)

How do I make a long dash in Google Docs?

1. 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.
2. 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.

How do I make an em dash in Windows?

On Windows it’s… less simple: you need to use an alt code to get an em dash. If you have a numeric keyboard, hold down the Alt key and type 0151 for an em dash or 0150 for an en dash.

Many people like to write, they make a living from it and use the Word text editor of the Office suite as their preferred tool for this task. But for those who are used to writing scripts, they will be able to verify that entering scripts can become torture. And we must know when to write each one of them and how to make or write the short dash and long dash in Word with the keyboard. 

Believe it or not there is a very marked difference between these two scripts, the long script is used in a general way to mark the intervention of the actors in a play and the short script is generally used to divide words as in the case of Franco-Hispanic .

So we will show you a simple way to make or write the short dash and long dash in Word with the keyboard. Our intention is to make your life easier with these types of tutorials and you can find in them a function that allows you to write these scripts automatically.

And for this you just have to follow the instructions that we will indicate, it is very easy to do as well as insert an emojis, a musical symbol or a weight or currency sign .

How to make or write the short dash and the long dash in Word with the keyboard

Next we will show you several options that you have to enter, make or write both the short and the long script, it is similar to the ones we use to put accents or accents . To start this tutorial we will start with this first method which consists of going to the main menu and in it we will select the Insert tab. Once this is done, we will be located on the right side of the toolbar.

And we are going to click on the Symbols option, then we will choose the Symbol option again and then on the More symbols option. The window will open and in it we will see two tabs and select the Special Characters tab. Here you will see a series of characters and symbols and among them at the top of the list you will find the long dash and the short dash.

Choose the one you need for your document and then go down to the bottom of the Symbol window and choose the Insert option. Once you have done this, the script you have chosen will appear automatically in the document you are creating. As you can see, this is a great way to hyphenate your text.

Another method to make or write the short dash and long dash in Word with the keyboard

Now we will show you another method with which to   make or write the short dash and long dash in Word with the keyboard. And it is precisely by making use of the keyboard shortcuts and you only have to know what combination of keys you should use so that the script is written in the text. Whether this is the one you need or the short dash or the long dash.

As you know, Word allows you to insert different characters and special symbols through keyboard shortcuts . If you want to enter the long dash, you must press the following key combination Ctrl + Alt + (-) the sign of the long dash will appear only when you press the one that appears on the numeric keyboard, otherwise this key combination will not work.

In order for you to write the short dash, you should not make any combination of keys for it, you just have to press the short dash key that is shown on your alphanumeric keyboard . Try to locate it on your keyboard, which is generally under the letter Ñ. it is always important that you become familiar with your keyboard and know where to find each special character.

And so in this simple way, we have taught you what the two types of scripts that you can write or include in your text are used for, and the steps you must take to be able to   make or write the short script and the long script in Word with keyboard.