Long dash how to#

There is a simple shortcut that includes the dash key on your keyboard that will quickly and easily create an em dash.

Best Option: Use the Em Dash Keyboard Shortcut Want that copy-and-paste em dash again? Here you go:īut you likely don't want to search “em dash copy and paste” every time you need an em dash.

So how do you create an em dash? You have three options: 1. This bears repeating: when you put two hyphens together, you do not create an em dash. They stay two hyphens forever with that pesky little gap between them. Plus, on other web editors, like WordPress, Twitter, and Facebook for example, those two hyphens don't magically become dashes of any variety. An en dash looks similar to an em dash, but they're used in totally different situations (more on that below). Two adjacent hyphens (that's two of these, no spaces between them: – -) combine to form an en dash, like this one: –. Warning: To correctly make an em dash on Word and other word processors, DO NOT use two consecutive hyphens or a double dash.

Long dash how to#

That wasn't so hard, right?Īnd if you want to learn how to create them for yourself-or go above and beyond and learn to use them correctly-then read on! Em Dash Keyboard Shortcuts: How Do You Make an Em Dash? No problem! Copy and Paste an Em Dash Here I don't want to learn anything, thank you.” If that's you, don't fret! You have this whole guide to learn more about what an em dash is, when to use it, how it's different than other kinds of dashes and hyphens, and how it can add style (if it's not overused) to your writing.īut maybe you're thinking, “I'm actually just here to copy paste an em dash. What are those things called, again? And how do I make sure I use it correctly so I don't look like an idiot?” Let's look at what an em dash is and how to use one correctly. You're writing an email, essay, or even-hey why not?-a book, and as you write, you think, “I need one of those long dash, double hyphen things.