
Use these shortcuts, instead: There’s a catch, though.
#How to em dash on keyboard mac code#
With a Mac, use the following shortcuts: Em dash (-): Shift-+ Alt/Option +-hyphen or Command + M En dash (–): Alt/Option + hyphenĮm Dash Alt Code If you’re using a PC with a numerical keypad, you can type in either an em dash or an en dash using the following Alt-codes: Em dash (-): Alt+0151 En dash (–): Alt+0150Ĭan a hyphen be used as a shortcut for em dash? Where do you use an em dash?Īn em dash is often used in place of a colon or semicolon to link clauses, especially when the clause that follows the dash explains, summarizes, or expands upon the preceding clause in a somewhat dramatic way. The longer em dash (-) is used to separate extra information or mark a break in a sentence. The shorter en dash (–) is used to mark ranges. What is the difference between an en dash and an em dash?Įm dashes and en dashes (- vs –) The en dash is approximately the length of the letter n, and the em dash the length of the letter m. Like a colon, an em dash introduces a clause that explains or expands upon something that precedes it. Like commas and parentheses, em dashes set off extra information, such as examples, explanatory or descriptive phrases, or supplemental facts. The em dash can function like a comma, a colon, or parenthesis.

(The Fn key is usually to the right of the left-hand Ctrl key on the keyboard.) For example, on a US keyboard layout, the combination for an en dash should be Alt+Fn+mjim and for an em dash it should be Alt+Fn+mjij. On a keyboard with no numeric keypad, use a Fn (Function) key combination to type the numbers. How do you type an em dash without a numpad? Press Option + Shift + Minus (that’s -, the key right next to 0 at the top of your keyboard). That means a sentence like this-though an odd example-appears a bit more artistic.Mac operating systems all have the same shortcut for the em dash, which makes the process quick and simple. It is mostly used stylistically to replace commas, colons, and parentheses. The em dash is the one we most associate as a long dash. If the type-size you’re using is 12px, then your em dash will be 12px in length.

Right… So, what is an em? In printing or character display on a screen, “em” is a unit of measurement roughly equal to the height of the font being used. Simply put, an em dash is a dash the width of an em. There are three standard types of horizontal punctuation “lines” used in writing: But what about those dashes that appear more extended than a hyphen? What are they used for, and how do you type them? This quick little guide should help you out. It is primarily used to hyphenate words (hence its name) and often used as the minus sign (-) in math.

We are all familiar with the standard hyphen symbol and know what it’s called.
