Em Dash vs. En Dash: How to Use Dashes

Dashes are punctuation marks used in the English language to indicate a break, range, or to combine words. There are two types of dashes: the en dash (–), and the em dash (—). Both types of dashes are frequently confused for each other and another type of punctuation: the hyphen (-). The en dash and em dash get their names from their approximate length: The en dash is shorter, about the width of the letter N, and the em dash is longer, about the width of the letter M. A dash can be used to link words or numbers or to create a pause in a sentence, but each situation calls for a different type of punctuation.

An en dash is a short dash that's about the width of the letter N. To form an en dash on a computer, press “option + hyphen” on a Mac or “ctrl + hyphen” on a PC. Use an en dash when you want to:

• Express date and number ranges: The en dash implies that there is distance between a range of numbers or dates. For example, “plant in August–October,” or “read pages 10–25.” En dashes are also used to report scores, such as, “Our team won 3–0.”
• Make complex compound adjectives clearer: When modifying proper open compounds, an en dash alerts readers to the fact that the prefix applies to the entire compound. For example, in “pro–United States,” the en dash indicates that the prefix “pro” applies to “United States,” not just “United.” The same goes for compound modifiers, such as in “Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist” or “crossing the New York–New Jersey border.”

An em dash is a long dash that’s about the width of the letter M. Use em dashes when you want to separate a phrase or clause from the rest of a sentence, such as to provide extra information in a parenthetical or signal an abrupt change at the end of a sentence. For example: “The dog—and I rarely pet dogs—was very cute” or “I ran into the one person I was avoiding—Carol.” To form an em dash on a computer, press “option + shift + hyphen” on a Mac or “alt + ctrl + hyphen” on a PC.

A hyphen is a short punctuation mark used to connect words and numbers that are closely related. Although technically not a dash, the hyphen is closely related to the en and em dashes. To form a hyphen on a computer, simply press the hyphen key on any standard QWERTY keyboard. (It’s also used as the minus sign.) Here’s when to use a hyphen.

• To form compound words: Hyphens are typically used to form simple compound words like “mother-in-law” or “singer-songwriter.”
• To write numbers: Use hyphens when spelling out numbers like “forty-five.”

Here are some of the most common mistakes when using dashes—and how to avoid them.

1. 1. Using an en dash instead of words: While it’s true that an en dash should be used in date and time ranges rather than a hyphen or em dash, whether or not you should use a dash at all depends on your sentence construction. If you’re using the word “from,” what should probably follow is the word “to,” not an en dash. For example: “We harvest tomatoes from July to September” or “We harvest tomatoes July–September,” not “We harvest tomatoes from July–September.”
2. 2. Adding unnecessary spaces: In most cases, you do not need to add spaces around a dash. There are exceptions to this rule: The Associated Press Stylebook suggests using a space before and after an em dash, so you may see this form used in newspapers and other publications that follow AP style. If you work in publishing, refer to your organization's style guide for information on spacing around dashes.
3. 3. Overuse of em dashes: Em dashes are such a versatile punctuation mark that you may find yourself overusing them. The next time you use an em dash, think about whether your sentence would be more effective with another type of punctuation, such as a semicolon, colon, commas, or parentheses.

Become a better writer with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Malcolm Gladwell, Neil Gaiman, Walter Mosley, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, and more.