How do you type an en dash vs an em 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.
What is an 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 is the difference between the en and the em give examples?
En dashes connect things that denote any sort of range, whether that’s in the form of distance, time, or amounts. For example: it’d be a April–June issue of a magazine, or pages 50–55, or 5–6 tablespoons. Em dashes can also serve as bullet points in any type of list.
How do the dashes em dash and en dash get their names?
Both types of dashes are frequently confused for each other and another type of punctuation: the hyphen (-). The en dash and em dash get their names from their approximate length: The en dash is shorter, about the width of the letter N, and the em dash is longer, about the width of the letter M.
What is 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.
Why is it called the 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 I type an en dash?
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 is em dash in grammar?
Em dash. The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons—in each case to slightly different effect. Notwithstanding its versatility, the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence.
What is the difference between a hyphen and a dash?
The difference between a dash and a hyphen is that a hyphen is used to form compound words, and there is no space between the hyphen and the words either side, but a dash usually has a space both before it and after it. E.g: Hyphen.
How do you insert em dash in word?
Insert an Em or En dash using the Symbol menu. You can also insert a special dash using the Insert Symbol menu: In a Microsoft Word document, choose Insert in the Menu bar. Choose Symbol. Choose More Symbols. Click the characters you’d like to insert. The Em dash should be on the second row.
What is em en dash?
The en dash is so called because it’s the same width as a capital N in typeface. The em dash is-you guessed it-the width of a capital M. Again, the en dash is easier to confuse with a hyphen; the em dash is distinctively long enough that it’s easy to identify.