Ta-da! For desktop PC: press “alt+ctrl+minus” on the numeric keypad (the number section on the far right of your keyboard). I had resorted to finding an em dash from another source, copying and pasting it into my own doc, and then changing the font to match my doc. Navigate to the user Dashboard on Dashe.io Privacy Policy. How to Write a Synopsis for Your Book: A Guide for Fiction and Nonfiction Writers, 55 Incredible Writing Retreats to Attend in 2021, A Complete Guide to Understanding, Obtaining and Using an ISBN for Your Book, Write About Your Furry Friends: 18 Pet Publications That Want Your Stories, Tools, ebooks and courses, all vetted by our team. 1. You could also add an auto-correct option. Em dashes (—) are powerful characters you can use in your writing to create a long, dramatic pause or place emphasis on a phrase. In MS Word for Mac, you can convert hyphens to dashes automatically as you type. In the native Mac word processor, Text Edit, you’ll have access to the Emojis & Symbols menu under Edit, which you can browse for the em dash. I talked to Mr. Jo… However, where parentheses cast the information very much as an aside, em dashes have a tendency to emphasize the information — so be sure you choose wisely.Â. In many cases, an em dash can be subbed in for either of these punctuation marks. It's as simple as that. If AutoFormat is not enabled (and you don’t want it to be), you can also find em dashes by navigating to the Insert tab, selecting Symbol, choosing More Symbols, and clicking the em dash on the second row. For Mac users: To type an em dash, hold down the Shift and Option keys and press the Minus key. An em dash might set off a phrase at … On a Mac, the keyboard shortcut Option + Dash (-) makes an en dash, and Option + Shift + Dash (-) makes an em dash. Thanks for this, but I’m still having em-dash issues. Inserting an em-dash in Word. “Just trust me on this one, okay?”. In order to make AutoFormat change your — to —, you’ll need to type one word before and one word after the double hyphen, without pressing the spacebar until the end.Â, Example: hocus–pocus (space) becomes hocus—pocus. (Yes, I could cram an em-dash into just about every sentence I write if my editors would allow it. Essentially, a hyphen is a dash (-), an en dash is the length of two dashes (–), and an em dash is the length of three dashes (—). In Word, you’ll hold down Shift+ Option+minus rather than the Ctrl+Alt+minus mentioned above. Em dashes are wonderful inventions and great for proving a point. You can also copy and paste the dashes from another document, such as a web page, into … The trick will not work if you … Bonus method Apart from these two methods, you can also create a substitution rule in Google Docs to enter em dash based on a custom shortcut. Please call my lawyer (Richard Smith) on Tuesday. (Yes, I could cram an em-dash into just about every sentence I write if my editors would allow it. Portland is a city where the weather — by which we mean rain, and a lot of it — can be a detractor for those who are susceptible to seasonal affective disorder. Since MacOS Yosemite was launched, Dashboard is … Indeed, em dashes are so versatile it’s hard to find examples wherein they’re truly wrong. Enter your email below. Alternatively, you can insert these special characters using the Insert Symbol menu. Photo via Alissa Kumarova / ShutterstockÂ. I was afraid I was overloading my writing with em dashes and it’s welcome news that it appears I am not. To do a hashtag on a UK Mac, press Alt + 3. One of the most popular word processors on the market, MS Word offers users a variety of ways to make an em dash appear.Â, The first of these is AutoFormat, which is likely already enabled and will automatically create an em dash when you type a double hyphen (–). your em dashes, I’d recommend creating an automatic substitution command. Get writing! The words are crammed right up against the ends of the em-dash rather than having a nice spaced look. All you need to do is hold down the following keys: ALT + SHIFT + MINUS. Method 1: Highlight the character in a document and drag it to the field just below the text "Character Info" in the Palette. Choose the pop-up menu option "Show Character Selected in Application". If you want to benefit from the em dash without littering your manuscript with double hyphens (–), here’s what you need to know.Â. For instance, if you’re separating an independent clause and a list, an em dash is just as valid an option as a colon. I cannot tell you how many times I have searched online for how to insert an em dash in Google docs and never found this! Command (⌘) + M Type this sign on Mac, press and hold the Command (⌘) key and the hit the M key. With Google Docs, you can either copy and paste either one from the Windows Character Map, press the em dash on the iOS keyboard (if you’re using a Mac), or use Google Doc’s Special Characters Window: Go … Have a look at out best Mac keyboards round up.. There are a few things you need for a safe hiking trip — sunscreen, water and high-quality footwear. Learn how your comment data is processed. Find an en dash (–), an em dash (—), or a minus sign (−) already in some text—in this sentence, for example—and paste it where a new one is wanted. Record Macros and Assign Them to Shortcut Keys. Mac operating systems all have the same shortcut for the em dash, which makes the process quick and simple. Thanks. Word will automatically convert it to an em-dash. Mac OS X. These shortcuts can work on any software including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, on both Windows and Mac. Method 2: Highlight the character in a document and click on the wheel in the Palette's bottom left corner. Learning to use proper punctuation — including periods, commas, question marks and more—will make you into a much stronger writer.Â. Microsoft Word automatically converts two hyphens into a em-dash … If you're a Mac user, congratulations: you basically only need to read the next sentence. Here are a few choice picks: Alternatively, you can use the Sticky Notes app to copy and paste this character for added convenience (or copy it from Google). Using the AutoFormat feature in Microsoft Word, you can create both an Em dash (—) and En dash (–) automatically by typing hyphens. Am I doing something wrong? Em dashes are also particularly useful in setting aside appositives that contain commas, since they offer a less cluttered, more streamlined sentence to the reader. then select Ω in the emoji keyboard — from here you can find and insert your em dash, Hold down ALT + type 0151 then release the alt key (this may not work on all Windows PCs), If you’re using Microsoft Word, you can set two (-) dashes to auto-correct to an em dash (—). Thank you! This sentence could also be written with commas or parentheses. Your email address will not be published. Racked: Spaces around em dashes. First things first: To create an em dash ( — ) on a Mac keyboard, press option + shift + -. You never have to go menu hunting for em dashes again. Users have the ability to download Dashe on Mac OS or Windows via our website. If you want to take a look at what you can access via the Dashboard, here is the complete list of 1703 Widgets currently available and supported. Who says you have to follow, Indeed, em dashes are so versatile it’s hard to find examples wherein they’re truly. If you are on mac, below is a shortcut to help you type the em dash sign in Word. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Mac OS X Download Article. It will also convert “space-hyphen-space” into “space-en dash … In Mac OS X, you can press the keys Option+Shift+ – (hyphen) together and the em dash will be inserted. Inserting an em-dash in Word. How do you make an EM dash on a Mac in Microsoft Word? Who says you have to follow grammar rules?!). To type the En Dash Symbol on Mac, press [ Option ] + [ – ] shortcut on your keyboard. Find out what makes it stand out from other dashes. All you need to do is hold down the following keys: ALT + SHIFT + MINUS. Next time you need that added ‘oomph’ in your sentence, crack out one of these bad boys. Here’s how you can rectify this with a few shortcuts. Hold down the Option (Alt) key and type a hyphen for an en dash. Ah, the em dash — that multifaceted, all-purpose punctuation mark that can act as a parenthesis, comma, colon, semicolon or even quotation mark. On the other hand, MS Word, either on a PC or a Mac computer, will automatically render an Em Dash when you type 2 hyphens, without any space in the middle of both hyphens, … Thanks for this. To type an en dash, hold down the Option key and press the Minus key. Yes, I wish to receive exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions from our partners. The em dash draws a reader’s attention, partly because of the physical separation that the longer dash creates and partly because these dashes appear less frequently than hyphens and en dashes. Leah Williams is a writer specialising in video games & entertainment. The novelty of the em dash makes it perfect for text that you want to stand out. The above shortcuts are all valid ways you can use to type the em dash in Word. Please call my lawyer, Richard Smith, on Tuesday. In the native Mac word processor, Text Edit, you’ll have access to the Emojis & Symbols menu under Edit, which you can browse for the em dash. Alternatively, an em dash can be typed with a double hyphen by pressing the Hyphen key twice and then press Space. … The ability to type a long dash has disappeared from Catalina. It’s simple to use an em dash on Mac computers. If there were ever a competition for the most versatile punctuation mark, the em dash  would without doubt be a front runner for the title. It’s simple to use an em dash on Mac computers. In many cases, an em dash can be subbed in for either of these punctuation marks. Mac Dashboard shortcuts. 1. With such a wide range of acceptable applications, an em dash might seem easy to use. For Mac: press “option+shift+hyphen key”. For an em dash, the combination is Shift+Option+Hyphen. When writing narratives or dialogue, em dashes become even more useful; they can help you bring a reader into the scene by displaying interruptions or changes in tone. We’ve already talked about when to use a semicolon and their plain-old-colon cousins. In order to put an em dash into your work, navigate to the “Insert” menu, and then select “Special Characters.” Instead of scrolling through the various symbols available to you, you can simply search for “em,” and the dash will come right up. Hey presto, you have your very own em dash. If you’re currently using a Windows machine, it’s a bit more complicated. No matter where you do your writing, there’s a trick to ensuring you get the perfect em dash every time! Manually Create Hyphens and Dashes The first thing you’ll need to do is fire up your browser and open a Google Docs file to get started. Hey presto, you have your very own em dash. Now I just get a beep, and no EM dash. Also important: em dash style varies slightly across Curbed, Racked, and Eater. Train your eye to recognize the shorter en dash (–), which should not be used in place of an em dash. We use cookies (your browsing data) to provide content that's helpful to you. Your email address will not be published. I use the em dash a lot, so am glad that you do too. Word will automatically convert it to an em-dash.On some Mac keyboards, the option key is called “alt”. We still aren’t sure if the manuscript is going to be accepted — we’re in a rather nail-bitey mood as of late.Â, “Shh,” he interrupted her, grinning. This is across several apps including native macOS ones, and 3rd party like Adobe's. For Mac: press “option+shift+hyphen key”. Just as you use parentheses to set aside auxiliary information (like this), you can use em dashes for the same purpose. You can also record macros for inserting dashes and assign those macros to key combinations. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Want to update your UK keyboard to a new one? First comes love, then comes marriage — then comes the $30,000 bill for the wedding. I’be been on Google for days to find out how to type an “em dash” on the iPhone, but i could not find a workaround for that — do you know one? Press the WINDOWS key + [ . ] More Less. In Google Docs, if you … Required fields are marked *. If you’re like most of the writers we know, chances are you’re already comfortable employing this enigmatic piece of punctuation— if anything, you use it too much.  and their plain-old-colon cousins. There’s several ways to insert an em dash on PC, but not every technique will work for you. Now, add the em dash into the box under With using the Alt-0151 or Shift-Option-Hyphen (on Mac) keyboard shortcuts. An em dash is a punctuation mark that can be used in place of other punctuation and can add style. Using the ⌘ + -key no longer works unlike previous versions. Finally, there’s also a keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Alt+minus, where Num Lock is enabled and you’re utilizing the minus symbol on your numeric keypad. Please call my lawyer—Richard Smith—on Tuesday. I also use ellipsis a lot and probably more than I should when an em dash would work better. So what are you waiting for? Use your word processor’s built-in autocorrect function. Whether you’re typing away on Microsoft word or in the backend of a CMS there’s plenty of ways to summon this special character. To type an em dash, hold down the Shift … Jamie Cattanach (@jamiecattanach) is a writer whose work has been featured at Fodor’s, Yahoo, SELF, Ms. Magazine, the Establishment, Roads & Kingdoms and other outlets. In Mac OSX, em dashes can be easily written by holding down the Shift and Option keys simultaneously, then typing a hyphen. You can’t go wrong with a good em dash — and that’s a fact. You can type an en dash on your Mac by hitting option + hyphen (-) You don’t have to be too much of a stickler when it comes to dashes—unless you are strictly bound to a writing style such as APA . :-}. It’s used in so many manners: to separate clauses that still want to be close friends; to create asides or add emphasis or signal amplification or denote interruption. While a standard keyboard allows you use a regular dash (-), it may not have the impact or excitement you intend. Step 1: Record macros for inserting en and em dashes. Although MS Word has long been considered industry standard, many writers have moved on to Google’s free cloud-based word processing platform, Google Docs. There’s a pretty simple shortcut which works on laptops and desktop macOS systems by default. Eater: Spaces around em dashes. You can use — in HTML to add the em-dash to a website. However, in this program, dual hyphens stay dual hyphens by default. Platform-dependent methods [ edit ] To make a dash using the Unicode numbers 2013 (en dash), 2014 (em dash) or 2212 (minus sign), see Unicode input § Hexadecimal … If you’re operating on a Mac, the basic instructions for MS Word and Google Docs above should still apply — though you’ll have different keyboard shortcuts. Use this method in any text field in Mac OS X. I can breathe again. It’s possible to force spaces by using the Insert function you describe, but should I? To type an en-dash, you’ll need to press the Alt key and the Minus key at the same time. Ridiculously complicated. If you — like me — use Google Docs almost exclusively and love your em dashes, I’d recommend creating an automatic substitution command. When I create an em-dash in MS Word by typing two dashes between words with no spaces, I end up with something that doesn’t look like your examples or published works. On the Mac, press Shift-Option and the minus key to make en em-dash. If you — like me — use Google Docs almost exclusively and. See our privacy policy for details. An em dash can also separate two independent clauses, just like a semicolon does, though it may feel more casual and signify that the two ideas are quite closely related. Â. But despite its flexibility, there’s one way in which the em dash is anything but intuitive — and that’s typographically. Click on the “Tools” menu, and then click on “Preferences.” At the bottom, you’ll see a tick box next to the words “Automatic substitution.” Ensure it’s toggled on, and then set a command to replace — with — (grab the symbol from the “Special Characters” menu referenced above, and copy/paste it into the right-hand text box). Go to: Tools>AutoCorrect Options>AutoFormat As You Type> and check the box beside “Hypens (–) with dash (—)” This will convert double hyphens to em-dashes. Em dashes (—) are powerful characters you can use in your writing to create a long, dramatic pause or place emphasis on a phrase. If you’re like most of the writers we know, chances are you’re already comfortable employing this enigmatic piece of punctuation— if anything, you use it too much. But just in case you’re looking for ways to spice up your punctuation, here are a few scenarios in which an em dash is a valid option. So now you’ve got everything you need to put em dashes in your own writing — the when, the where and the how. Now, here is how you use the macOS Dashboard to improve your productivity. Make an em dash or en dash with a keyboard shortcut. For Windows users, simply press down the Alt key and type 0150 using the numeric keypad, then let go of the Alt key. Click on the flag icon in the menu bar Select Show Keyboard VIewer from the drop-down list Hold down the Shift, Option, or Option Shift and watch the display If a character is surrounded by a box, it combines with the next character you type, if it is a valid combination. In Word, you’ll hold down Shift+ Option+minus rather than the Ctrl+Alt+minus mentioned above. Keyboard Shortcut. Now you can get the top stories from Lifehacker delivered to your inbox.

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