The Em Dash and How to Use It Correctly

Do you use em dashes? Do you know what an em dash is? If you answered yes to both, you’re in good company. Lots of writers use em dashes—a lot. I definitely do—sometimes more than I should.

And since too many em dashes detract from effectiveness—plus look sloppy and unprofessional—if I have more than one or two on a page or blog post, I decide which are truly useful—and which can be ditched.

Stop! Take a look at the opening paragraphs. Now there’s a case of em dash overload. Do you see what I mean?

All em dashes can be ditched, to tell you the truth. They just aren’t necessary in a piece of polished writing. They’re an embellishment, a tool, a piece of garland on the tree.

But used skillfully, they add emphasis, meaning, rhythm, and voice the way no other punctuation mark can.

Update: This article predates AI-generated writing, which frequently overuses em dashes and often misuses them. Many writers worry that using em dashes could make readers suspect they’ve used AI, but knowing how to use this punctuation mark that goes back to medieval times can help you decide when (and when not) to use it.

What is an em dash?

An em dash—or dash for short—is a straight, horizontal line positioned about halfway between the bottom and top of a lower-case letter. It looks like this: — 

It’s called an em dash because its width was once about the same as a lower-case letter em (m).

The main reason to use an em dash is to set off an explanation or an abrupt change in thought.

What an em dash is not

An em dash is not an en dash. An en dash is a dash that’s about half the length of an em dash. It’s approximately the width of the lower case letter en (n, not m). Here’s an en dash: –

An em dash isn’t a hyphen, either, or even two hyphens. A hyphen is a teensy-weensy little dash that’s typically used to join words, such as teensy-weensy.

Let’s compare em dashes with hyphens and en dashes

A hyphen connects words closely related as a single concept and words that function as compound adjectives (or joint modifiers). A hyphen is also used to connect a prefix with a word.

Compound words (a single concept): great-grandmother, merry-go-round, free-for-all, front-runner. 

Compound adjectives: red-hot (lava), run-down (shed), up-to-date (vaccines)

Prefix: re-covering (a sofa, for example, not recovering from an illness), pre-kindergarten, ex-wife, co-owner

Hyphens are also used for other purposes, but that’s a different subject for another day. Here’s a good list of hyphenated words, but always check with a reputable dictionary. I use Merriam-Webster.

An en dash is used to connect items related by distance. The average blog writer doesn’t often use it, but you’ll see it in The New York Times and other professional publications or books with editors who are careful about standard usage. 

Dates: 1920–1996, February 3–April 16

Time: 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Magazine issues or regular events and occurrences: June–December (includes each month’s issue or an event starting with June and ending with December)

Planes and trains: the Philadelphia–New York City train, the Frankfurt–Rome flight

The en dash has other uses, so check your preferred style guide, such as The Chicago Manual of Style or the AP Stylebook, for more on that.

Here’s what the em dash is all about

The em dash signals a sudden shift in thought. It’s often an explanation that replaces parentheses, especially when you want to emphasize abruptness. An em dash can also replace commas, a colon, or a semicolon, but only with good reason (surprises, shocks, opposites, or something unusual).

A few examples:

She bravely led the way—though her voice trembled and her hands shook—and we finally arrived safely. (Commas would be fine to set off the parenthetical clause. Parentheses could also work instead of em dashes.)

Her life wasn’t short—she’d hardly begun. (A semicolon could also work.)

He controlled his anger—barely—and gave her the money. (Without em dashes, rephrase: “He barely controlled his anger and gave her the money.)

It can also set off an introductory clause or word when it’s followed by a pronoun or demonstrative pronoun (that, this, these, those) that introduces a main clause.

Examples:

Flattery—that was the main technique he used to get information from a witness.

Lying, cheating, and running around—these were not typical behaviors.

Barraged with insults, held at gunpoint, threatened with a knife—she never gave up.

A dash is also useful in dialogue to show a break in thought that’s abrupt (rather than a trailing thought that gets an ellipsis).

“She told me you—” Patrice gasped when Angelina entered the room.

“Yes, she did—of course she did—but you know better than to believe her,” Angelina said as her heels clicked on the wood floor.

Paired with dialogue, it interjects action or other details.

“This isn’t the first time Brian has broken a promise”—she rolled her eyes—”and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

The 2-em dash can replace a missing word, such as an expletive that may be offensive in an article or novel that doesn’t otherwise include that kind of language.

“What the —— are you talking about?” his father roared.

The 2-em dash also replaces a name when it’s unknown or intentionally disguised in fiction. This is most common in historical fiction from the 1700s and 1800s and in modern fiction that imitates that period.

Mr. —— greeted us at the door.

Lady —— and her servant fueled the already heated gossip among the townspeople.

Veronica A—— decided to attend the ball at the last minute.

Use a dash with an exclamation point or question mark, but not with a comma, a colon, or a semi-colon (and only rarely with a period).

If only I could have saved him—if only!—he’d still be alive.

I wasn’t sure if I could—did I dare?—but if I didn’t try, I’d never know.

These are the most common ways to use an em dash; however, academic writing also requires them for other situations.

What about spaces before and after em dashes?

Whether you surround a dash with spaces depends on which style guide you follow. AP Stylebook calls for spaces. The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) does not.

Or it can simply be a matter of personal taste. Here’s a comparison.

Spaces: She hurried back to the house — she wouldn’t find the answer in the garden.
No spaces: She hurried back to the house—she wouldn’t find the answer in the garden.

I prefer no spaces, personally, although I follow AP Style (with spaces) for most of my freelance editing work. I think the spaces create too much of a gap and make the eyes work too hard to get from one word to the next. As a result, the writing itself distracts readers from the message by drawing attention to the style.

Plus, with spaces around the dash, text may automatically break at the end of a sentence (as in a blog post), and the next line will start with a dash. That can be confusing. Consistency, however, is the most important factor.

How to create an em dash

The main reason for substituting a hyphen or double hyphen for an em dash is that many writers just don’t know how to create one, since it’s not on keyboards. Here’s how you do it.

Mac:
Keyboard: Option + Shift + Hyphen (-)

Windows:
Keyboard: Ctrl + Alt + Minus Sign (-) or Alt+ 0151

Autoformat on Word and other applications: type a word, then two hyphens together, then another word. Voila! The hyphens become an em dash (it’s a little short, though). 

Google docs: Use Mac or Windows keyboard shortcuts or Insert > Special characters and search for em dash

Menu: Insert > Symbols > Special Characters > Em Dash

If none of these work for you, just Google “keyboard shortcut for em dash Windows 10 or 11 (or Word, Word 2016, Windows 365, Mac, Mac Pages, iOS, and so on). If you know of another way, please share in the comments!

Use em dashes, but use them wisely

Em dashes are great. They add variety to your sentences and style to your writing, but be careful to use them thoughtfully. They don’t add much and might detract when used carelessly or excessively. But they can add a punch or stress a point when used in just the right spot.

Pro Tip: One or two em dashes per 1000 words is enough. More than that, and they lose their power.

And remember: don’t substitute a hyphen or two hyphens. Be professional. Use the correct punctuation mark, and if you can’t create an em dash for some reason (or aren’t sure how to use it), just skip it. You’re better off.

Do you know how to create an em dash in a different way or on a different OS? Share your knowledge! Questions and comments are always welcome.