Second Best Option: Use the Symbols Section on Word or WordPress There is a simple shortcut that includes the dash key on your keyboard that will quickly and easily create an em dash. Best Option: Use the Em Dash Keyboard Shortcut Want that copy-and-paste em dash again? Here you go:īut you can’t be googling “em dash copy and paste” every time you need an em dash. So how do you create an em dash? You have three options: 1. This bears repeating: when you put two hyphens together, you do not create an em dash. They stay two hyphens forever with that pesky little gap between them. Plus, on other web editors, like WordPress, Twitter, and Facebook for example, those two hyphens don’t magically become dashes of any variety. An en dash looks similar to an em dash, but they’re used in totally different situations (more on that below). Two adjacent hyphens (that’s two of these, no spaces between them: – -) combine to form an en dash, like this one: –. Warning: To correctly make an em dash on Word and other word processors, DO NOT use two consecutive hyphens or a double dash.
#MICROSOFT WORD KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS EM DASH HOW TO#
That wasn’t so hard, right?Īnd if you want to learn how to create them for yourself-or go above and beyond and learn to use them correctly-then read on! Em Dash Keyboard Shortcuts: How Do You Make an Em Dash? No problem! Copy and Paste an Em Dash Here
I don’t want to learn anything, thank you.” If that’s you, don’t fret! You have this whole guide to learn more about what an em dash is, when to use it, how it’s different than other kinds of dashes and hyphens, and how it can add style (if it’s not overused) to your writing.īut maybe you’re thinking, “I’m actually just here to copy paste an em dash. What are those things called, again? And how do I make sure I use it correctly so I don’t look like an idiot?” Subscribe to get more articles like this oneĭid you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, join our email list.You’re writing an email, essay, or even-hey why not?-a book, and as you write, you think, “I need one of those long dash, double hyphen things. The Alt keyboard shortcuts will work in multiple programs but the other shortcuts will work only in Microsoft Word. If this doesn't work, press NumLock 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. 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. You can also use the Alt key in combination with a sequence of numbers of insert an em dash or en dash. Inserting an em or en dash using Alt and keyboard shortcuts To insert an en dash using AutoFormat as you type:Ĥ. Type two dashes or hyphens with no space between or after them.To insert an em 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. Inserting an em or en dash using AutoFormat as you type To insert an en dash, click where you want to insert the en dash and then press Ctrl + – (minus sign on the numeric keypad). 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). Inserting an em or en dash using Ctrl and keyboard shortcuts In Word, there are two tabs at the top of the dialog box.īelow is the Insert Symbol dialog box in Word:Ģ. Click where you want to insert the em dash or en dash.To insert an em or en dash using Insert Symbol: You can use the Insert Symbol command to insert special characters in Word documents. Inserting an em or en dash using Insert Symbol Recommended article: How to Keep Text Together in Microsoft Word 1. An em dash is a long dash which is the width of the letter m. You can insert an em dash or en dash in a Microsoft Word document using the Insert Symbol command or by using keyboard shortcuts. Insert an Em or En Dash in Microsoft Word using the Ribbon or Keyboard Shortcutsīy Avantix Learning Team | Updated February 22, 2021Īpplies to: Microsoft ® Word ® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365 (Windows)