Em Dash vs En Dash — When to Use Each Symbol with Examples

The em dash and en dash are two punctuation marks that often confuse writers, editors, and anyone working with text. While they look similar, they serve very different purposes. Understanding when to use each one will improve your writing clarity and professionalism.

Quick Comparison

Copy and Paste

The Em Dash (—)

The em dash is the longer of the two dashes and serves as a versatile punctuation mark that creates emphasis, indicates interruptions, or sets off parenthetical information.

When to Use the Em Dash

• Set off parenthetical information: The concert—held in an outdoor amphitheater—was the highlight of the summer.
• Indicate an abrupt break or interruption: "I was just about to tell you the secret when—" He stopped suddenly.
• Emphasize a concluding element: She had one goal in mind—to become the best in her field.
• Replace a colon for emphasis: There was only one problem—the car wouldn't start.
• Attribute a quotation: "Knowledge is power." — Francis Bacon

Em Dash Examples in Context

The ancient city—long thought lost to the sands of time—was finally rediscovered by archaeologists.

We'll need three things for the project—time, money, and dedication.

The En Dash (–)

The en dash is shorter than the em dash and has more specific, limited uses centered around ranges and connections.

When to Use the En Dash

• Number ranges: Pages 15–23, 1995–2024, 9:00–5:00
• Date spans: The conference runs March 15–17, 2026.
• Score results: The final score was 3–2.
• Connections and conflicts: The Paris–Berlin train, the north–south divide
• Compound adjectives with open compounds: pre–Civil War era, non–English speaking

En Dash Examples in Context

Please read chapters 5–8 before Monday's class.

The Boston–New York flight takes about an hour.

She worked at the company from 2018–2023.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Em Dash (—)

En Dash (–)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using Hyphens Instead of Dashes

A hyphen (-) is shorter than both dashes and serves different purposes (compound words, line breaks). Do not substitute hyphens for em or en dashes in formal writing.

Incorrect: The years 2010-2020 were transformative.

Correct: The years 2010–2020 were transformative. (en dash)

Spaces Around Dashes

Style guides vary on this point:

• AP Style: Spaces around em dashes — like this.
• Chicago Manual: No spaces—like this.
• En dashes: Generally no spaces, except when used as "to" in text: from 9 to 5 or 9 – 5

Using Em Dashes for Ranges

While an em dash might look acceptable, using it for number ranges is technically incorrect. Always use an en dash for ranges.

Incorrect: Read pages 10—25.

Correct: Read pages 10–25.

Style Guide Summary

Quick Reference

Use an em dash when you want to create emphasis, show an interruption, or set apart additional information. Use an en dash when expressing ranges, connections, or scores. When in doubt about which dash to use, remember: em dashes are for breaks and emphasis, en dashes are for ranges and connections.

Conclusion

Mastering the em dash and en dash takes your writing from good to professional. While they may seem like small details, using these punctuation marks correctly demonstrates attention to detail and strengthens your credibility as a writer. Bookmark this guide for quick reference until using these dashes becomes second nature.