Nov, 2019 admittedly, mac makes it easier to use em and en dashes than windows. Just so you know, i am relying on the chicago manual of style for my. For more helpful tips like this, sign up for my free newsletter at. In a lengthy brief subject to a word count, you could save some words by using the hyphen. It seems to be inserting an en dash regardless of whether you wrap a single or a double hyphen within spaces.
For more information about the features available in word starter, see word starter feature support. How to use hyphen, en dash or em dash correctly grammarist. Hyphen, en dash, em dash in html and word ct web design. When one cites more than one work by the same author, every citation after the first begins with a 3 em dash followed by a period. In todays article, youll learn about all the available methods you can use to type the em dash symbol in word using windows or mac. How to type em dash in word with shortcutlong dash. Word can also generate an en dash if you type a single space, followed by two hyphens, and then another space. Hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes in microsoft word heather.
An em dash is used as a substitute for a comma, colon, semicolon or parentheses. If you prefer to use a true em dash, most keyboards dont include a key for it, but a simple shortcut is available. Microsoft word is a word processing program that was fi. Examples of sentences with em dashes use em dashes to identify a parenthetical clause an inessential phrase that adds information in a sentence. Instead of spaced em dashes, the style manual stipulatesi can barely bring myself to type these wordsthe use of spaced en dashes. Many word processors will automatically insert an em dash when you type a pair of hyphens. Dont use an en dash to indicate an empty cell in a table. You can insert an en dash in your document using insert from the word ribbon menu. Product marketing manager, office for mac at microsoft 2011 present. Sep 30, 2010 the em dash draws a readers attention, partly because of the physical separation that the longer dash creates and partly because these dashes appear less frequently than hyphens and en dashes. To fix this in microsoft word, type the following key sequence for the end of the sentence. The following steps will help you set the autoformat feature in your microsoft word. Two hyphens followed by a word and a space will create an em dash in windows. This dash is called em dash because it is one em wide.
Similarly, word will automatically format two dashes into an em dash. Aug 29, 2010 mdash or em dash automatically created in word when you type somethingsomething wordhyphenhyphenword. Em dash v en dash templates, forms, checklists for ms. For example when you have words connected with hyphens like junedecember with two hyphens will be changed to junedecember with em dashes. The australian governments style manual for authors, editors and printers 6th ed. The em dash gets its name from the fact that it is as wide as. In this section, i will make available for you five different methods you can use to type or insert the em dash symbol in word for both mac and windows users.
After disabling the autocorrect option, youll have to enter an em dash manually. To type an en dash in microsoft word, press the ctrl and minus sign keys on the numeric keypad on a standard keyboard. Similar to an extended hyphen, an em dash is used to show a break in thought or a shift of tone. This opens the word options dialog box, where you can customize your word settings and preferences. Insert an ndash or mdash in microsoft word punctuation matters. Exception surround an en dash with spaces when its used as a minus sign in an equation or in a time stamp appearing in ui.
How to type en dash symbol in wordexcel for windows and. Sometimes, an em dash is used in the same manner as a bullet point or to show an interruption between two people engaged in a dialogue. In word 2011 for mac, i used to be able to make an em dash by doing shiftalthyphen. This is a good thing given how complicated the hyphenation rules are. If youve been using microsoft word for the past quarter of a century, it can seem like word has alway. How to type en dash symbol in wordexcel for windows and mac. I recently switched to word 2016 for mac, and at first that shortcut worked. Insert the numeral form of a number for examples, insert 3 instead of the word three numeral number. Oct 27, 2015 with a hyphen, microsoft word counts this as one word. Microsoft word provides several methods for typing or inserting symbols that do not have dedicated keys on the keyboard.
Oct 04, 2017 most keyboards and software programs lack the em dash, therefore it must be created using a special function key supported by the software program or by entering two hyphens. Aug 04, 2020 the style manual is proposing that the unspaced em dash no longer be used in australian english for parenthetic purposes or to amplify, explain or signify an abrupt change. An easy way to insert an ndash or mdash in microsoft word. There are also en dashes, which are only as long as an n. Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colonsin each case to slightly different effect. An em dash might set off a phrase at the end of a sentencelike this one. This feature is by default enabled on microsoft word 2010. When you need an em dash, you can let word enter it for you the easy way. Microsoft word is an industry leader in word processing, and installing it on your computer after purchase is easy indeed. If youre operating on a mac, the basic instructions for ms word and. How to type en dash symbol text in word excel microsoft office provides several methods for typing en dash symbol or inserting symbols that do not have dedicated keys on the keyboard. This will automatically change your two hyphens into an em dash. In ms word, they are several ways to insert an em dash. Jul 22, 2019 use the em dash for sudden breaks or interruptions chicago manual of style 6.
Alternatively, just use the copy button at the beginning of this post. Oct 11, 2019 if youre using a word processor, like microsoft word, you can also type double hyphens next to each other to produce an em dash. Get these keyboard shortcuts in a word document at this link. To insert multiple characters, click them one at a time. An en dash is the shorter dash this is the one microsoft word will often. An en dash is used when writing about a range of things that are related. Apr 07, 2016 the em dash is used to evoke emphasis or to set off an element added to amplify or to digress from the main clause publication manual of the apa, 2001, p. Simultaneously hold down the option and shift buttons, and the dash button. Some of you may take exception to the claim of no surrounding spaces. When you type the following space, word will autoconvert the dash to an em dash. For example, if you wanted to find an em dash, youd enter the following code in the find what box.
Computer dictionary definition for what em dash means including related links, information, and terms. Automatic hyphenation is quicker and easier, although manual hyphenation provides more control. In the old days of manual typesetting see the picture, the line represented by an em dash was as long as a letter m. Words tools and features can save you time and improve your documents. Place your cursor where you would like to insert the em dash. How to create an em dash in microsoft word like many people, i use microsoft word as my word processor, even on my mac. To create an en dash, type a single hyphen again, with no space before or after. The instructions for inserting an em dash in word 2007 are on pages 26 27. Outside of microsoft word, both windows and mac os can generate dashes using certain keyboard shortcuts.
You can have word hyphenate your text automatically as you type your text, or later, in one pass. Now you can manually remove those throughout a document takes ages. For windows programs, the short cut for the en dash is control on the number pad. Some settings in the word options dialog box apply only to word. Notwithstanding its versatility, the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence. Example if youre not sure about the details, look at the illustrations in the wizardthey can help you figure out what type of connection youre using. You scan it and save it in your computer or mobile device, then you convert it into a word document. If you are on mac, below is a shortcut to help you type the em dash sign in word. Nonbreaking em dashes microsoft word microsoft word tips. How to create a nonbreaking dash in microsoft word youtube. Be careful not to leave extra spaces in your text when creating the em dash. Use an em dash to set off a parenthetical phrase with more emphasis than parentheses provide. Sep 09, 2015 according to the punctuation guide, the em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark.
The program comes standard with the microsoft office suite of home and small business pr. Insert the literal word for example, insert the word comma instead of the punctuation mark literal word. But if you miss an ndash while you type or if you want to add one later when editing text it is not easy to get the dash that you want. The method below lets you assign new shortcuts that are easy to type and easy to remember. Perform a final search before submitting or publishing, and analyze every em dash. Click the file tab, click options, and then click the proofing option available in the left most column, it will display the word options dialog box. Related pages how to insert an en dash or em dash in microsoft word. In a microsoft word document, choose insert in the menu bar. Turn off auto replace of hyphens with dashes in word 2010. For example, when writing about a specific range of years or pages. How to insert an en dash or em dash in microsoft word. A look back at the changes and challenges microsofts flagship wordprocessing program has been through during its first quartercentury. To create an em dash, use two hyphens, which microsoft word will automatically turn into an em dash if no space is left before or after them.
Some tips for academic writing and using microsoft word. Additional distinctions between the three types of dashes are explained in the redbook from 1. Or, em dashes may set off a phrase midsentencea technique that really draws a readers attentionas they do in this sentence. Jul 19, 2016 in this short video tutorial, microsoft mvp heather ackmann discusses the differences between the hyphen, en dash, and em dash, as well as how to insert these different symbols in microsoft word. Theres a pretty simple shortcut which works on laptops and desktop macos systems by default.
Characters and doubleclick the nowidth non break character to manually insert it. Steps on how to insert an en dash and em dash in microsoft word. For windows users, obey the following instructions to copy and paste the en dash symbol using the character map dialog box. When you scan a document into word, you dont scan it directly into word. The em dash has become a beloved punctuation mark among many. Em dash or em rule is also sometimes referred to as long dash. It is a type of dash that is three times as long as a hyphen or minus sign. If you are using a typewriter, a pair of hyphens is the closest you can get to an em dash. Correct em dash formation for ebooks and what about the en. Locate the minus key on the laptops numeric keypad. When using ms word, select file, then symbol and select your correct dash rather than lazily hitting the hyphen keep on your keyboard.
Mar, 2021 insert an em or en dash using the symbol menu. In this section, i will make available for you five different methods you can use to type or insert this and any other symbol on your pc, like in ms office ie. If you are using microsoft word starter, be aware that not all the features listed for word are supported in word starter. The above shortcuts are all valid ways you can use to type the em dash in word. To type a hyphen in html or microsoft word, just press the hyphen key. If one would express the particular punctuation mark as to, as in 1911 to 2011, then use the en dash. Using the autoformat feature in microsoft word, you can create both an em dash and en dash automatically by typing hyphens. Insert three em dashes in the place of a repeating authors name in a bibliography. The novelty of the em dash makes it perfect for text that you want to stand out. Sharing and collaborating using word files is easy and increasingly common.
This will insert the em dash symbol into your word document. Hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes in microsoft word. Create a nonbreaking dash in microsoft word that will keep words or numbers connected by an em dash or an en dash from separating at the end of a line. By annie beverley 02 november 2020 microsoft word is the original productivity. Four ways to insert an em dash in a word document techrepublic. You can also use manual hyphenation to have word make hyphenation suggestions. Shortcuts for other software, like openoffice, will vary. Use one em dash on each side of a phrase embedded in a sentence. How to easily access the elusive emdash on windows and mac. Move the cursor to the position in the document where you want the en dash. Control hyphenation office support microsoft support. For mac users, use option hyphen to get the en dash. The en dash an en dash is used more like a hyphen because it connects words. How to insert en dashes in word quick and easy with word.
If youve used access keys to save time on word for desktop computers, youll find access keys very similar in word for the web. An em dash is mostly used to set apart a phrase or clause. Word will automatically insert a long horizontal line. You can also use manual hyphenation to have word make. Theres also microsoft word 365, part of microsoft 365. First, ill give you a list of word s builtin codes, which you can use in microsoft word s find and replace dialog editreplace. If youre new to microsoft word or have only typed up the occasional letter or simple document, you might not realize how mu.
This will not work if you use the minus key just before the equal sign key. It includes using dash and hyphen, quotations and italicizing, outline view, styles, hidden text, key bindings, breaks, and bibliography tools. Microsoft word is a word processing program first developed by microsoft in 1983, and included with all microsoft office suites. Use one em dash to set off a phrase at the end of a sentence. You can also insert a special dash using the insert symbol menu. How to insert an em dash in microsoft word simul docs. Microsoft words default autocorrect will insert an em dash when two unspaced hyphens are entered between words for example, wordword is converted to wordword and an en dash when one or two hyphens surrounded by spaces are entered for example, word word or word word is converted to wordword. If that approach doesnt suit your needs, try one of three manual methods. Microsoft word is a robust wordprocessing program that can assist with projects ranging from the small office memo to a complex academic dissertation. You may use an em dash if your sentence decides to go on a jaunt or a jolt, or entertain an interruption in dialogue or thought. Word for the web offers access keys, keyboard shortcuts to navigate the ribbon. Then press spacebar after the last word and it will turn into this. How to enter hyphens, en dashes and em dashes in html and word. The exact process varies depending on the office version you have.
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