November 2008

Not All Dashes Are Created Equal

Knowing the difference between hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes — and using them right

by Todd W. Timmcke

You have seen it many times — two hyphens masquerading as an em dash or an awkwardly spaced tiny hyphen trying desperately to create a dramatic pause in a sentence. Now that most of us use word processing programs and computers to do our writing, we have only ourselves to blame for not using punctuation and punctuation marks properly. Of all the punctuation marks, the different types of dashes can be rather problematic. Not too long ago, typesetters used to take care of choosing the correct dash for us. Now with computers and word processors, it is our duty to choose the appropriate dash and corresponding punctuation symbol in order to create clarity in our writing. This isn't really difficult at all, and with a little practice, making a dash of the correct length can be easy and even fun. The following is a quick guide to help you choose and use the right dash every time. If you are self-publishing your own book or writing a brief, learning the difference among dashes and using the right one will make your writing easier to read and comprehend.

Hyphen, En Dash, Em Dash — There's a Difference?

Hyphen. The hyphen (-) is the shortest of the dashes and is used for hyphenating or breaking words in two to fit from one line to the next in a paragraph. In justified copy, hyphens help to create a tailored look with more even spaces between words. The hyphen is also used to create compound adjectives such as "full-time employment" or "domestic-partnership agreement." Finally, hyphens are used in non-inclusive numbers, such as telephone or Social Security numbers.

En Dash. The en dash (–) is a little longer than the hyphen but not as long as an em dash. It is roughly the width of the letter "n" within a typeface. En dashes are primarily used to express a range with numbers or dates. It can also be used to express a distance or for scores. Think of the word "through" or "to" when using en dashes. For example: "Children ages 10–14 will be charged a five-dollar entrance fee." Or: "The Cubs lost to the Dodgers 3–0." Additionally: "The flight attendant's favorite route was Seattle–Paris."

Em Dash. The em dash (—) is twice the size of the en dash, roughly the size of an "m" within a typeface. This is the dash that most people think of when they think of a dash. Em dashes are used to create a strong break or pause within a sentence. Em dashes are also used in pairs to set a part of a sentence off from the rest, much as you might use parentheses. For example: "We planned on traveling extensively throughout Europe — but only in those countries where we found bargain hotels — until our money ran out." Em dashes are useful for long sentences that contain many phrases or clauses. Using em dashes can make your sentence easier to read and easier to understand.

Now That I Know What They Are, How Do I Create Them?

As often as we use dashes, it would be great if there were a keyboard key devoted to each type of dash. The only one you will find on most modern keyboards is the hyphen, which is in the top row to the right of the "0" and to the left of the "=." The line above the hyphen is for underlining and is not a dash.

En dash. To create an en dash on a PC keyboard, hold down the "Alt" key and type 0150 on the numeric keypad. This may seem a lot of bother to create a line that is just a wee bit longer than a hyphen, but with continued use it will come quickly. On an Apple Macintosh keyboard, you can create an en dash by holding down the "option" key and typing a hyphen.

Em dash. To create an em dash on a PC keyboard, hold down the "Alt" key and type 0151 on the numeric keypad. On the Apple Macintosh keyboard, hold down the "option" and "shift" keys and then type a hyphen.

Spaces? The general rule is not to use spaces on either side of hyphens, en dashes, or em dashes. Some style guides (such as the one used for Bar News) permit spaces before and after em dashes in order to create more convenient line breaks within a sentence. The other exception to the rule is the hanging hyphen. You see this in phrases such as "full- or part-time" or "two- and four-hour seminars."

Dash Away

Your writing will be clearer and easier to read if you choose the correct dash. Selecting the correct dash symbol will make your briefs and summaries more professional — once you have mastered the keystrokes, never again will you allow a couple of hyphens to weakly impersonate an em dash! 

Test Yourself! What's Wrong with These Examples?

The board meeting will take place March 5 - March 7.

You will find additional resources listed on pages 42-46.

Mildred did all she could -- including taking depositions from the two witnesses -- to carefully prepare the case.

People age 65 - 70 are now eligible for additional retirement benefits.

The defendant's case was not a strong one – there were no witnesses to testify.

Answers

The board meeting will take place March 5–March 7. (Use an en dash without spaces between dates.)

You will find additional resources listed on pages 42–46. (Use an en dash without spaces to express a range of numbers.)

Mildred did all she could — including taking depositions from the two witnesses — to carefully prepare the case. (Use em dashes, not hyphens, to set off part of a sentence.)

People age 65–70 are now eligible for additional retirement benefits. (Use an en dash to indicate an age range.)

The defendant's case was not a strong one — there were no witnesses to testify. (Use an em dash to set off a part of a sentence.)

Todd W. Timmcke is managing editor/graphic designer of Washington State Bar News. He can be reached at toddt@wsba.org.