Em Dash Symbol (—) — How to Type, Copy & Paste
Copy the Symbol
Both forms of the symbol ready to copy:
— — Em Dash (U+2014) — Copy this: —
– — En Dash (U+2013) — Copy this: –
Highlight and copy the dash you need. The em dash (—) is the long one. The en dash (–) is shorter, used for ranges like "pages 10–20."
What Does the Em Dash Symbol Mean?
The em dash (—) is the widest dash character, roughly the width of the letter M (which is how it got its name). It is used to create strong breaks in a sentence.
Think of the em dash as a more dramatic comma, colon, or pair of parentheses. It creates a pause that stands out visually and draws attention to what follows.
The em dash has three main uses in writing:
1. Interruptions and parenthetical thoughts: "The recipe — passed down from my grandmother — takes three hours to prepare."
2. Emphasis at the end of a sentence: "After months of planning, the launch was — a complete disaster."
3. Defining or expanding: "She had one goal — win the championship."
In British English, the em dash is often used with spaces on both sides ( — like this — ). In American English, it is typically used without spaces — like this—though both styles are accepted.
Do not confuse the em dash with the hyphen (-) or en dash (–). Each has a different purpose. The hyphen joins words (well-known). The en dash shows ranges (2020–2025). The em dash sets off thoughts.
How to Type on Windows
Several ways to type — on Windows:
Alt Code: Hold Alt and type 0151 on the numeric keypad. Release Alt to get —.
Word AutoFormat: In Microsoft Word, type two hyphens (--) between words and Word will automatically convert them to an em dash.
Character Map: Open Character Map from Start. Search for "em dash" and copy it.
Word/Office: Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols. Find — in the General Punctuation section.
En Dash: Alt code for – is 0150.
How to Type on Mac
macOS makes dashes easy:
Em Dash: Press Shift + Option + Hyphen (the - key).
En Dash: Press Option + Hyphen.
Auto-convert: In most Mac apps, typing two hyphens (--) automatically converts to an em dash.
Character Viewer: Press Cmd + Ctrl + Space and search for "em dash."
How to Type on iPhone & Android
Getting an em dash on mobile is surprisingly simple:
iPhone: On the default keyboard, tap and hold the hyphen key (-). A popup will appear with the em dash (—). Slide your finger to select it.
Android (Gboard): Tap and hold the hyphen key. A popup shows — and other dash options. Slide to select the em dash.
Both platforms hide the em dash behind a long press on the regular hyphen key. Easy once you know the trick.
Uses of the Symbol
The em dash is a powerful punctuation mark used across all types of writing:
Creative Writing: Creates dramatic pauses, interjections, and interruptions in dialogue and narrative. "I never said—" she started, then stopped.
Journalism: Used for attribution and source breaks. Also for setting off parenthetical information in news articles.
Academic Writing: Some style guides (like MLA and Chicago) support em dashes for parenthetical statements. Others prefer parentheses or commas.
Business Writing: Adds emphasis or clarification in professional documents without being as formal as a colon.
Programming: Not used in code syntax itself, but frequently appears in documentation, README files, and technical writing.
The em dash is sometimes called the "most beautiful punctuation mark" by writers because it gives sentences rhythm and drama. It is worth learning to type it properly rather than relying on double hyphens as a substitute.