A hyphen is also used to separate syllables of a word when there is a line break, though this was more prevalent when type was set by hand rather than electronically. If you occasionally need two hyphens instead of an em dash, you can press [Ctrl]+Z and Word will undo the em dash character and restore the hyphens. Em dashes set apart parenthetical phrases or clauses in a sentence.In this use, em dashes are similar to commas and parentheses, but there are subtle differences.For example, em dashes are used when a parenthetical remark contains an internal comma or would otherwise sound awkward if enclosed by commas. 6 Em dashes can indicate pauses or disruptions in dialogue. When you need more of a separation between words and phrases, though, you’ll need either an en dash or an em dash, depending on the context. ¶ It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. An em dash, or long dash, is used:. Q. When you need more of a separation between words and phrases, though, you’ll need either an en dash or an em dash, depending on the context. Hyphens, Em Dashes, and En Dashes: When to Use Them and How to Type Them. The hyphen, the em dash, and the en dash are all horizontal marks of varying lengths.Each functions differently from the others. 1. En dash The en dash (–) is slightly wider than the hyphen (-) but narrower than the em dash (—).The typical computer keyboard lacks a dedicated key for the en dash, though most word processors provide a means for its insertion. The Chicago Manual of Style Online is the venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. There’s even more explanation: If the break belongs to the surrounding sentence rather than to the quoted material, the em dashes must appear outside the quotation marks. Uses of the em dash. Learn how to use them in this video! How to Create an Em Dash or Hyphen The hyphen is easy enough to fin, since it’s right there near the top of your keyboard after the number zero. Using the AutoFormat feature in Microsoft Word, you can create both an Em dash (—) and En dash (–) automatically by typing hyphens.Alternatively, you can insert these special characters using the Insert Symbol menu.

You can also copy and paste the dashes from another document, such as a web page, into your Word document. A. I will try to condense the various bits of information scattered throughout CMOS.First of all, there are three lengths of what are all more or less dashes: hyphen (-), en dash (–), and em dash (—). If you don’t want to use parentheses or colons , you can substitute them with a long dash. An em dash or a pair of em dashes may indicate a sudden break in thought or sentence structure or an interruption in dialogue. Below we define each mark, explain when to use them, and provide instructions for typing them on both PCs and Macs.