To indicate a break in the flow of a sentence—or an interruption—use an em
dash, also known as a long dash. Don't put a space before or after it.
You can type the em dash character in various ways:
HTML
—
macOS
Press Option+Shift+hyphen.
Linux desktop environment
Enable the Compose key (instructions for doing that vary depending on
your flavor of Linux—for examples, see Linux Keyboard Shortcuts For
Text Symbols). After the Compose key is enabled, you can create an em dash
by typing the Compose key followed by three hyphens.
Alternatively, press Control+Shift+U. Let go of those keys, and then type
2014. Then press Return.
Windows
Turn num lock on, and then hold down the left Alt key and type 0151
on the numeric keypad.
Don't use an en dash (the shorter dash) or a hyphen in place of an em dash.
The use of an en dash with spaces around it in place of
an em dash is gradually becoming more common, but it's still not very widespread
in the US in professional publishing; so far (as of early 2016), it's mostly
used in Canada and a few other places. For now, only use the em dash.
En dashes
Don't use. Instead, use a hyphen or the word to. For more information, see
the following:
Another common but nonstandard construction is to use an em dash, an en dash, or a hyphen
surrounded by spaces to separate an item and its description. Instead, use
a colon or a period.
For a series of items, use
an HTML description list (<dl>).
Recommended: Example: This is an
example.
Not recommended: Example - This is
an example.
Recommended: Appendix A: My first
appendix
Not recommended: Appendix A—My first
appendix
Recommended:
<dl>
<dt>Example</dt>
<dd>This is an example.</dd>
<dt>Another example</dt>
<dd>This is another example.</dd>
</dl>
[null,null,["Last updated 2024-10-15 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eEm dashes indicate a break or interruption in a sentence and should not have spaces before or after.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eTo create an em dash, use the HTML entity \u003ccode\u003e—\u003c/code\u003e or platform-specific keyboard shortcuts (provided in the content).\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eAvoid using en dashes or hyphens in place of em dashes; instead, use hyphens or the word "to" where appropriate.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUse colons or periods (or HTML description lists for multiple items) to separate items and their descriptions instead of dashes.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["Em dashes, used for breaks or interruptions in sentences, should not have spaces before or after. They can be entered using HTML code `—` or specific key combinations on macOS, Linux, and Windows. Do not substitute en dashes or hyphens for em dashes. Colons or periods, not dashes, should separate items and their descriptions. For item series, use HTML description lists.\n"],null,["# Dashes\n\nThis page explains when to use em dashes. For information about hyphens, see the following:\n\n- [Hyphens](/style/hyphens)\n- [Ranges of numbers](/style/numbers#ranges-of-numbers)\n- [Ranges of numbers with units](/style/units-of-measure#ranges)\n\nEm dashes\n---------\n\nTo indicate a break in the flow of a sentence---or an interruption---use an em\ndash, also known as a long dash. Don't put a space before or after it.\n\nYou can type the em dash character in various ways:\n\nHTML\n: \\—\n\nmacOS\n: Press \u003ckbd\u003eOption+Shift+hyphen\u003c/kbd\u003e.\n\nLinux desktop environment\n: Enable the Compose key (instructions for doing that vary depending on\n your flavor of Linux---for examples, see [Linux Keyboard Shortcuts For\n Text Symbols](http://fsymbols.com/keyboard/linux/compose/)). After the Compose key is enabled, you can create an em dash\n by typing the Compose key followed by three hyphens.\n: Alternatively, press \u003ckbd\u003eControl+Shift+U\u003c/kbd\u003e. Let go of those keys, and then type\n \u003ckbd\u003e2014\u003c/kbd\u003e. Then press \u003ckbd\u003eReturn\u003c/kbd\u003e.\n:\n | **Note** : These Linux options don't work if you're signed in to the Linux command line from a remote system using `ssh` or the like; you have to be in a Linux desktop environment.\n\nWindows\n: Turn num lock on, and then hold down the left \u003ckbd\u003eAlt\u003c/kbd\u003e key and type \u003ckbd\u003e0151\u003c/kbd\u003e\n on the numeric keypad.\n\nDon't use an en dash (the shorter dash) or a hyphen in place of an em dash.\nThe use of an en dash with spaces around it in place of\nan em dash is gradually becoming more common, but it's still not very widespread\nin the US in professional publishing; so far (as of early 2016), it's mostly\nused in Canada and a few other places. For now, only use the em dash.\n\nEn dashes\n---------\n\nDon't use. Instead, use a hyphen or the word *to*. For more information, see\nthe following:\n\n- [Ranges of numbers with units](/style/units-of-measure#ranges)\n- [Range of numbers](/style/hyphens#number-range)\n\nColons instead of dashes in description lists\n---------------------------------------------\n\nAnother common but nonstandard construction is to use an em dash, an en dash, or a hyphen\nsurrounded by spaces to separate an item and its description. Instead, use\n[a colon or a period](/style/lists#description-lists-that-use-run-in-headings).\nFor a series of items, use\n[an HTML description list](/style/lists#description-lists) (`\u003cdl\u003e`).\n\nRecommended: Example: This is an\nexample.\n\nNot recommended: Example - This is\nan example.\n\nRecommended: Appendix A: My first\nappendix\n\nNot recommended: Appendix A---My first\nappendix \nRecommended: \n\n```\n \u003cdl\u003e\n \u003cdt\u003eExample\u003c/dt\u003e\n \u003cdd\u003eThis is an example.\u003c/dd\u003e\n \u003cdt\u003eAnother example\u003c/dt\u003e\n \u003cdd\u003eThis is another example.\u003c/dd\u003e\n \u003c/dl\u003e\n \n```"]]
