how to type en dash

“Lots of people prefer the way the ‘space-en-dash-space’ looks on a page, and it is used in lots of magazines and papers as a replacement for the proper use of the em-dash. If you’re wondering, yes, these are types of punctuation that are named after letters. You can use the Insert Symbol command to insert … Really helpful article. Obey the following instructions to type the em dash symbol using the alt code method: Place your insertion pointer where you need the symbol. Different dashes are used for different uses. You have a sharp eye Emm. The em dash (—), the longest and most versatile, is used to act as a more emphatic comma, semicolon, or colon. I note that the state organization is registered as “NAIFA-Florida,” and other local chapters are variously registered as “NAIFA – Word1 Word2, ” NAIFA-Word1 Word2,” “NAIFA Word1 Word2,” “NAIFA-Word,” and “NAIFA – Word.” My own preference would be “NAIFA [n-dash] Space Coast.” Burt the corporate registration site for Florida, sunbiz.org, apparently does not use the n-dash, only the hypen, in its listings. Our legal name is registered as To type the En Dash Symbol on Mac, press [ Option ] + [ – ] shortcut on your keyboard. “Break the rules! These new compound words can be written open, such as the “, In the rare case that large numbers need to be written out—think the last time you wrote out a personal cheque—a hyphen is required for compound numbers from 21 (, En dashes are also used to represent a conflict, connection, or direction between two words or compounds. Wix.com is a leading cloud-based development platform with millions of users worldwide. 3. Hello! The n-dash was about as wide as an upper-case N; the m-dash was as wide as an M. That’s how they got their names. The hyphen, em dash and en dash crop up all the time while you’re using Microsoft Word, but most of us don’t know why and we use the different dashes inconsistently. Myer Announces Unprecedented Designer Sale Anyway, thanks for this. Kevin Pollock, Writer and Manager of Content at Wix. We can all use dashes and other ‘non-basic’ punctuation just like a professional printing typesetter does. For Windows users, simply press down the Alt key and type 0150 using the … Command (⌘) + M Type this sign on Mac, press and hold the Command (⌘) key and the hit the M key. Hi Keith, Use this method in any text field in Mac OS X. It’s interesting that the ways to spell the names of the dashes are not agreed on. On the PC, you can get an en-dash few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. and checking back regularly! When you paste an n-dash or m-dash from Word, it will be an n-dash or m-dash in your tweet. The display on the upper right discusses the width on the em-dash and en-dash in terms of the uppercase M and N. I always thought they were based on the lowercase m and n. What a great post. The en dash is a slightly overgrown variant of the hyphen, and when thinking about the hyphen-dash functional spectrum, the en dash would fall near the middle but a nudge closer to the hyphen side. Sometimes when you use the em-dash people say, “What is that? Ken. Typically, no spaces are used on either side, but it’s really a matter of style and writer preference. For example, But there’s no one dash that the word dash refers to. Teachers Teaming Up Against Cancer in Fundraiser Challenge I added a separate post on this: But it is very common and works just fine in my opinion. Let’s make that more clear. – What about money/currencies where a dash/hyphen is used to indicate 0 cents ? Some financial reports still use a dash for empty decimal places. The en-dash and em-dash are both dashes. Why ‘rule’? 50% Off the Entire Range—Limited Time Only! I got about five possible choices but the first one shown in results is the vanilla em-dash. “Using the hyphen, dash, n-dash and m-dash (ndash and mdash)” was a pretty awesome posting, . More symbols in the category: How to type punctuation | How To Type.net. Alternatively, insert en-dash from the Insert>Symbol menu. After the tool opens, type “em dash” or “en dash” into the search bar and then click the symbol from the results on the left. (ex. ali. What might be the correct format? Promote your business, showcase your art, set up an online shop or just test out new ideas. Em dashes and en dashes (— vs –) Published on May 31, 2019 by Amy Luo. I usually use ‘space-n-dash-space’ instead of the m-dash – just to keep everyone happy. In most countries today, neither of these is used. Span or range of numbers. In the “When to use” section, the n-dash is shown correctly as it’s used for the purpose of date ranges and number ranges. ]”, said Jennifer. In the rare case that large numbers need to be written out—think the last time you wrote out a personal cheque—a hyphen is required for compound numbers from 21 (twenty-one) to 99 (ninety-nine). I suspect a PR expert might say these examples are a bit too non-specific for press release headlines, because they really don’t tell the reader what the story is about. The en dash (–) is slightly wider than the hyphen (-) but narrower than the em dash (—). This option will only be appealing to you if you tend … The differences might appear subtle, but their usages are distinct: The hyphen (-), the shortest, is used to join multiple words that function together as a single concept, a.k.a. If you go to Insert Symbol, Special Characters (as shown by Diane) and select M-Dash, try clicking on the AutoCorrect button. https://macmost.com/e-1847 Did you know that that there are three different types of dashes: the hyphen, en dash and em dash? On Mac computers: the hyphen is already there (also known as the minus symbol). Which is the correct way? Latex will automatically turn it into an en-dash. These dashes go back to an earlier era of printing. En dash. Automatically created in Word when you type “something – something” (word-space-hyphen-space-word). I don’t like that big long dash thing.” 2.2. For the N DASH, type ALT (option) HYPHEN for the M DASH, type ALT (option SHIFT HYPHEN. Yeah, well, the F-bomb - it's become as ubiquitous as the word 'like.' Sometimes, these new words are formed by combining two (or more) existing terms, with the combination having an entirely unique meaning. Per Webster’s: never hyphenate as a noun (This blog is state of the art! “Sometimes when you submit writing that uses the em-dash people say, “What is that? Using a typewriter, you had to use two dashes for the m-dash and ‘space-hyphen-space’ as a rough replacement for the n-dash. Why don’t educated people use dashes correctly? We make it easy for everyone to create a beautiful, professional web presence. N-dash (or ‘en dash’) Automatically created in Word when you type “something – something” (word-space-hyphen-space-word). I have always used an En dash to set apart text, a function you attribute to the Em dash. Hold down the [Alt] key and type 0151 on the numeric keypad. The en dash is used to represent a span or range of numbers, dates, or time. But in the “When to use a hyphen, en-dash or em-dash: What’s the difference?” there are no spaces. The problem is that printing presses, then typewriters, then computers, have changed how we use punctuation. The en dash is about as wide as an uppercase N; the em dash is as wide as an M. (This image was made with PowerPoint and Photoshop; the relative sizes of the dashes look right but, here, the en dash and em dash don’t exactly match the width of the upper-case N and M.), “Sometimes writing for money—rather than for art or pleasure—is really quite enjoyable.”, “I can’t believe how pedantic Ken is about writing—doesn’t he have anything better to do?”, “Hunter strode into the room—was he mad?—and the family stopped and stared.”, “Computers make everyday punctuation—for reasons that we’ll discuss later—more precise yet more confusing.”, “I reached in and pulled the spray can out of my backpack—” “In front of the police?”. I try explaining this to pelope all the time, and no one ever gets it. But your initial example shows it that way: bla-bla hyphen As you know, you get one type of dash when you use the minus key on your keyboard – it is very narrow. The most common usage of an en dash is to replace the words “to” or “through” when indicating a range of values, such as a span of time, dates or numbers. bla – bla en-dash (or ndash or n-dash) (Sort of like the preceding sentence starting with the conjunction “but” which, while it is terribly wrong in some grammarians’ opinions, is very functional, accepted and common.) inserting the n-dash or m-dash in Microsoft Word, http://www.oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic.phtml?t=52480, https://www.punctuationmatters.com/the-difference-between-a-dash-and-a-minus-sign/, Why Should You Use an Em Dash? “NAIFA Word1 Word2” seems like the simplest option which probably makes it the best. Did we all skip the same grade-5 English class? If you press Ctrl+- (remember, on the numeric keypad), then Word inserts an en-dash. Limited Time Only. You can easily use three types of dashes on Apple products. If you can test headline variations and track the response rates to find your most effective headline, that’s ideal. The em dash keyboard shortcut differs depending on if you're using a Mac or PC. I’d always preferred the look of no spaces surrounding an em dash but spaces surrounding the en dash, but if it’s not correct, I won’t do it. So when in doubt, it’s always best to check a dictionary or consult a style guide. Sounds so valiant. En dashes, so named because they are about the same width as an upper-case “N”, are often confused with hyphens. « Write Or Revise Daily (WORD! Another em dash vs. en dash difference is the width. There are even more names for the dashes. —es. Now people know what’s on sale and when they need to act. ), The difference between a dash and a minus sign, The en dash, em dash and hyphen (also ndash and mdash, n dash and m dash or n-dash and m-dash), Quickly insert an n-dash or m-dash in Microsoft Word, Indicates breaks within words that wrap at the end of a line, Connects compounded words like “mass-produced” (Closed compound words like counterintuitive have no hyphen in modern English, except for uncommon combinations that are confusing or ambiguous without a hyphen. In Windows, you can do it quickly with an external keyboard with a number pad. If the example showed an en dash with no spaces, that would be technically incorrect as well—unless the example showed it being used with numbers or words conveying a range. Another way to insert the dashes is to use the minus key on the numeric keypad. Alt+0150 on numberpad only is En dash, and Alt+0151 on numberpad is Em dash. Inserting an en-dash in Latex. Later, in the days of the typewriter, there was only the hyphen; the typewriter keyboard had no keys or buttons for the n dash and m dash. Hi Denwood, About your second question, there is no hyphen in set apart. As certain compound words become more commonly used, many of the hyphens tend to disappear, forming closed compounds. You can type an em dash on your Mac by hitting shift + option + hyphen (-) What is an En Dash? Ken, While the title of the article is “The hyphen, en-dash and em-dash (ndash and mdash, n-dash and m-dash),” the title of the web page is “Using the hyphen, dash, n-dash and m-dash (ndash and mdash).”. I am working on a document with a lot of ranges and am replacing all the hyphens with en dashes (and spaces!). If you use the ‘wrong-n’ method and use it consistently, it works fine and seems to keep the greatest number of people happy. We need to protect those poor Dashes, don’t we? To be sure you choose the right one, hover the mouse over each one before you click on it. The em-dash (—) The em-dash is normally twice as long as the n-dash; its length is equal to the width of the letter m, whence the name. Ken. It can also set off pauses or interruptions within a text—like parentheses, except with a more emphatic effect that still maintains the natural flow of discourse. Your email address will not be published. In the editing class I took as part of my tech writing degree, we were taught to use the en-dash to set off a clause within a sentence, not the em-dash. For PC-laptop, without numeric keypad, you can type two consecutives hyphens and let your word processor’s autocorrect do its magic. I work in a building full of accountants; they use a decimal point and zeroes, not a dash. A headline for a press release e.g. En dash is Ctrl+ Num Pad -, Em dash is Alt+Ctrl+Num Pad -. To type an en-dash, you’ll need to press the Alt key and the Minus key at the same time. Example: The fire is well lit. The hyphen, dash, n-dash and m-dash crop-up all the time in Microsoft Word but most of us don’t know why, and we use them inconsistently. Which begs the question, is there in fact such a thing as a “dash?” I.e., neither en- nor em-, but simply a dash? To insert a dash or minus sign, use the toolbar below the edit box. On a … https://www.punctuationmatters.com/the-difference-between-a-dash-and-a-minus-sign/. Designer Dress Summer Collection—50% Off. Let’s look at those dashes with some text: Some web browsers display en dashes automatically. I had to figure this out. To type an en dash, press Option + hyphen (-) To type an em dash on keyboard, press Shift + Option + hyphen (-) The only problem is that to use these en and em dash shortcuts effectively, you need to remember them. 50% Off the Entire Range. Love this article. Using a dash to indicate a zero decimal or null value: Due to bad memory I have to keep coming back. Only the hyphen appears on keyboards as default. Type "em-dash" in search box. You’re my hero! Cheers, Born in Canada, raised in America, educated in England, and living in Israel. For the N DASH, type ALT (option) HYPHEN After writing about how the n-dash and m-dash are used, I thought I should add something about how to insert the n-dash and m-dash quickly in Microsoft Word.. Microsoft Word can create the n-dash and m-dash automatically while you type. Note: Several types of en and em dashes show up in the search results. Same sequence but search for en-dash on the other character. A longer dash is called an En dash because it is the same width of … Thanks ,Agnes. Examples include conflicting sides of an argument (. As a result, a lot of people mistakenly use the hyphen instead. “For a limited time you’ll receive 50% off – worth $1000 (list price). That was my typo and it’s been corrected now, thank you! Like the hyphen, there should never be a space between the en dash and its adjacent content. Discount Season Arrives for Designer Dresses, Shopping Frenzy Expected Sunday The en dash (–), a hyphen with a growth spurt, is used to represent the words “to” or “through” when specifying a range. Linking these words with hyphens is necessary so that the reader understands they should be taken together as a descriptor. It’s not a big deal. The n-dash is named for its width in print typesetting (when people lined up little metal blocks for each letter, which would press ink onto paper). (Professional designers and typesetting snobs think Word is awful, but it works very well for most people.). A compound modifier (or phrasal adjective) is a compound word used to describe a noun that follows it. I hate it when I get distra—oh, look at the cute puppy. If the compound modifier begins with an adverb ending in “-ly,” then the hyphen is unnecessary. This is brutal. In those examples at the beginning of this article, the aim is just to show people what the different characters look like before we dig deeper in the article to cover the details. ), Connects grouped numbers, like a phone number 555-860-5086, The hyphen does not indicate a range of numbers, like a date range, which is the job of an en dash, Joins numbers in a range, such as “1993–99” or “1200–1400, Joins words that describe a range, like “July–October 2010”. To insert an em dash (—), click on … 50% Off the Entire Range – Limited Time Only! Plus, sometimes an explicit date or deadline can get a better response than an uncertain “limited time offer”. The example isn’t technically correct; it shows the “wrong-n” method that we see quite a lot and that I generally prefer. Insert an Em or En dash using shortcut keys. I think the best answer is a marketing answer, without concern for what might be technically correct and without concern for the corporate registration (because you could change or add a version to the corporate registration details). ); always hyphenate as an adjective (This is one state-of-the-art blog!). I hope you keep creating and I’m going to keep on following! But there are differences. [New: how to type the n-dash on a phone or tablet]. It returns the first one again is the one you want I am guessing. Works better than commas to set apart a unique idea from the main clause of a sentence: Separates an inserted thought or clause from the main clause, such as: Shows when dialogue has been interrupted. If you have a numeric keyboard, hold down the Alt … Choose Symbol from the Insert menu, click the Special Characters tab, highlight the em dash… People just throw the word 'like' around as punctuation. Remember, hyphens are short links merging multiple words into one, en dashes are longer spanning links replacing “to” or “through”, and em dashes are punctuation marks that lengthen the emphasis. There are three types of dashes in writing used to convey different ideas in an engaging way. On Windows it's...less simple: you need to use an alt code to get an em dash. On Mac OS: Hold down the Option key and press the minus key. Take full control of your dashes in Microsoft Word! A man-eating shark (and not a man eating shark). There are two types of dash. [Old advice] You can easily use three types of dashes on Apple products. 50% Off the Entire Range! Not a bad idea if you just want to be understood. Some people use two hyphens to approximate a dash (–). Revised on December 23, 2020. Drawback: Not very convenient, especially if you’re using a phone or tablet. I don’t like that big long dash thing.” Some technical writers think the n-dash is the only one to use. In lots of writing, the use of dashes is very inconsistent – regardless of how ‘professional’ the writers are. Inserting an em or en dash using Insert Symbol. Those are more copywriting questions than punctuation questions and PR is not my speciality, but I’ll take a crack at it… Moda Crushes Prices for Summer Collection Second, why is there a hyphen in set-apart? Emdash: a compound word. Also you could use a colon, or two full stops, etc. I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after going through a …write your post or tweet in Microsoft Word, then copy it and paste it into Twitter or Facebook. On a PC, you can use an Emoji keyboard or type the "Alt Code," Alt + 0151. Unlike hyphens and en dashes, there is no definitive rule on using spaces around em dashes or not. Plug in a full-size external keyboard or keypad. What would be the proper standard format for an entity name like this consisting of a one-word abbreviation for the name of the primary organization modified by the two-word chapter name, which is the standard name of the geographic location of the chapter. The Wix website builder has everything you need to create a fully personalized, high-quality free website. Notice how the En Dash has a space on either side. Businesses and other entities don’t really need to follow rules of capitalization, punctuation etc. Hi Ashleigh,

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