I love em dashes. You could say this is my love letter to the amazing, almighty em dash. 😍 They’re fun. Useful—they bring a certain flair, call out a side note of importance, and generally make me happy. It’s my favorite punctuation.
Yes, that is one of the most writer-ey things I can say, I know, but you have a favorite punctuation; you know you do. And if you don’t love the em dash, Grammarly gives you all the reasons you should.
It’s crazy to me that this isn’t just on the keyboard as a regular punctuation symbol. But that begs the question: How do you type an em dash?
How do you type an em dash?
There are a few ways you can get the em-dash into your words.
Windows: Use the ALT code
On a keyboard with a numerical pad, you can use the ALT code. Hold the ALT button down and press 0151. ALT+0151
(Also note that ALT+0150 will give you the en-dash)
Windows: Use the Windows key
Whatever you’re typing next, when the time comes to add in your em dash, find the Windows key on your keyboard – it looks like this:
Hold the Windows key and click the ; key. This window will pop up:
The first screen is your emoji list. But if you click over the “symbols” tab, you’ll find the em dash along with other less common symbols:
Type an em dash on a Mac
For those of you on a Mac, I hear it’s pretty simple to get your em dashes when you want them: option + shift + dash (-) to get the em dash. (And hold the SHIFT and OPTION keys and press the minus key for an en dash.)
Copy it from right here
If all else fails, here you go. Grab any one of them below:
— — — — — — — — — (❁´◡`❁) — — — — —— — — — —
What is the em dash?
It’s probably safe to assume you know this answer if you’re on this page. But just in case, the prerequisite definition:
An em dash is a punctuation mark used to replace other forms of punctuation such as a colon, a comma, parentheses, or semicolons—specifically when you want to note a change or a break in your sentence. (In other words, it’s the dramatic punctuation.)
When should you use the em dash vs the en dash?
Because it’s my favorite, I’ll use the em dash whenever I darn well want. But there is a (technically) right or wrong way to use them.
Em dash ( — ) Use this when you want to emphasize the following thought.
For example, when you want to:
- Note a sudden change or sudden change in the sentence—such as structure, sharing examples, explanations, or related but separate information. (I started the day ready to conquer my to-do list—then I remembered I have zero motivation.)
- Set off additional information. (Whenever I say I’m cooking dinner—my DoorDash driver somehow always knows to be on standby.)
- Add emphasis or pause for effect. (I told myself I’d go to the gym today—and then my couch said, ‘No, you won’t.’)
- Show time ranges. (My productivity hours are 9:00–9:07 a.m.—blink, and you’ll miss them!)
- Being more dramatic than a colon calls for. (I finally discovered the secret to a productive workday—don’t open your email.)
En dash ( – ) Use this when you want to connect things of equal weight.
For example, when you want to:
- Show numerical ranges (Ideal sleep: 8–9 hours. My reality: 4–5, if I’m lucky.)
- Show a connection or direction between words where a “to” or “and” is implied. (My weekend plan? Couch–fridge–bed. Repeat as necessary.)
- Show a relationship between two names. (The epic cat–dog rivalry is alive and well in my living room.)
- Use complex compound adjectives (She gave me that I-haven’t-had-coffee-yet look this morning.)
- Show conflict or opposition (My relationship status: pizza–diet war, with pizza winning every time.)
