Em Dash or En Dash (not to be confused with the hyphen)
The em dash is a punctuation mark and it is wider than a hyphen. Depending which font is being used the em dash is the same width of the capital M of the font in use.
The em space, or simply the em, can be used as a unit of measure when specifying layout. For example, you could specify that paragraphs are to be indented two ems.
The em dash can be used as punctuation. Some matters of punctuation are the subject of endless, (and sometimes heated) debate, and the suggestions here are offered only as suggestions.
To show a break or pause in a sentence. For example: "She was the one who did it — I saw her with my own eyes.
To mark off unimportant or explanatory words. For example: "The three items — a book, a pen, and a notebook — were all he needed for school."
To create emphasis or drama. For example: "He finally said the words I had been waiting for — I love you."
To indicate a sudden change of thought or tone. For example: "I was going to call you, but — oh, never mind."
The em dash is sometimes used at the end of a line of poetry to create a minimal pause rather than the define pause of a comma. Sometimes a comma pause would too long an interruption when reciting the poem aloud.
One common usage is to replace commas or parentheses (brackets) either side of a phrase, as in, for example:
This is how—if you like—you could use a pair of em dashes.
The em dash could also be used instead of an ellipsis (...) to indicate something unfinished:
She exclaimed, 'What the— !'
The en space and the en dash are nominally half the width of an em. When used parenthetically the en dash, unlike the em dash, usually has a space either side of it:
This is how – if you like – you could use a pair of en dashes.
The en dash can also be used, without flanking spaces, to replace the word 'to' in expressions such as:
There were about 20–25 people there.
or
I caught the New York–Boston flight.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When using Microsoft Word an en dash and em dash can be inserted thus:
From the menus at the top of your screen select Insert
From the drop-down menu select Symbol
Select Special Characters
Highlight the character you wish to use and then click on Insert
The em dash is a punctuation mark and it is wider than a hyphen. Depending which font is being used the em dash is the same width of the capital M of the font in use.
The em space, or simply the em, can be used as a unit of measure when specifying layout. For example, you could specify that paragraphs are to be indented two ems.
The em dash can be used as punctuation. Some matters of punctuation are the subject of endless, (and sometimes heated) debate, and the suggestions here are offered only as suggestions.
To show a break or pause in a sentence. For example: "She was the one who did it — I saw her with my own eyes.
To mark off unimportant or explanatory words. For example: "The three items — a book, a pen, and a notebook — were all he needed for school."
To create emphasis or drama. For example: "He finally said the words I had been waiting for — I love you."
To indicate a sudden change of thought or tone. For example: "I was going to call you, but — oh, never mind."
The em dash is sometimes used at the end of a line of poetry to create a minimal pause rather than the define pause of a comma. Sometimes a comma pause would too long an interruption when reciting the poem aloud.
One common usage is to replace commas or parentheses (brackets) either side of a phrase, as in, for example:
This is how—if you like—you could use a pair of em dashes.
The em dash could also be used instead of an ellipsis (...) to indicate something unfinished:
She exclaimed, 'What the— !'
The en space and the en dash are nominally half the width of an em. When used parenthetically the en dash, unlike the em dash, usually has a space either side of it:
This is how – if you like – you could use a pair of en dashes.
The en dash can also be used, without flanking spaces, to replace the word 'to' in expressions such as:
There were about 20–25 people there.
or
I caught the New York–Boston flight.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When using Microsoft Word an en dash and em dash can be inserted thus:
From the menus at the top of your screen select Insert
From the drop-down menu select Symbol
Select Special Characters
Highlight the character you wish to use and then click on Insert