When we speak, we start and stop. We also pause, trail off, change thoughts, and get cut off. It’s easy to hear all of that, but how do we show it in our writing?
On my computer keyboard, I have a hyphen. Sometimes I call it a dash. Until I researched this article, I didn't know there was a difference, or that there were four different dashes. I thought a dash was a dash, and you used multiple ones in specific instances. I planned only to touch on the use of a dash—in a sentence—when it caused our written words to imitate our spoken words. Once I discovered the variety of dashes, I knew I had to share all the information with you!
Although our keyboards are limited in choices, we can use specific keystrokes to symbolize each of these characters.
- Hyphen -
This is created three ways:
- You can use the hyphen key, usually located in the top row after the number zero, which is also the underscore key if used in conjunction with the shift key.
- You can use your toolbar at the top of the screen and click Insert > Symbol > Special Characters, and choose the Nonbreaking Hyphen.
- You can use the shortcut key: Ctrl+_ (This is actually three keys; to get the underscore, you must also push the shift key.)
Personally, I find the hyphen key, by itself, the easiest to push when I need a hyphen.
- En Dash –
This is created two ways:
- You can use your toolbar at the top of the screen and click Insert > Symbol > Special Characters, and choose the en dash.
- You can use the shortcut key: Ctrl+Num - ("Num -" refers to the minus sign located on your numerical keypad. If you are using a laptop, look for the blue "function" symbols; push Ctrl+fn+ the symbol needed to create a minus sign. On my laptop, it's the colon/semicolon key.)
- Em Dash —
This is created three ways:
- You can use your toolbar at the top of the screen and click Insert > Symbol > Special Characters, and choose the em dash.
- You can type two hyphens together (Word will automatically change this to an em dash after you've typed a few more keystrokes).
- You can use the shortcut key: Alt+Ctrl+Num – (Once again, "Num –" refers to the minus sign located on your numerical keypad. On my laptop, I need to push Alt+Ctrl+fn+colon/semicolon.)
- 2-Em Dash ——
This is created three ways:
- You can use your toolbar at the top of the screen and click Insert > Symbol > Special Characters, and choose the em dash twice.
- You can type four hyphens to symbolize the 2-em dash (the typesetter will know which em dash is needed in the final publication).
- You can type two hyphens together, a word (any word will do as long as the hyphens touch the word), two hyphens, and a space. Then go back and delete the word you typed between the hyphens (which have been converted to em dashes).
I prefer the third method, as the first two both leave gaps between the lines.
- 3-Em Dash ———
This is created three ways:
- You can use your toolbar at the top of the screen and click Insert > Symbol > Special Characters, and choose the em dash three times.
- You can type six hyphens to symbolize the 3-em dash (the typesetter will know which em dash is needed in the final publication).
- You can follow the same method for creating the 2-em dash and add an extra set of hyphens. (Again, this one is my personal preference, for aesthetic purposes.)
Now that you know how to create all of these different length lines, where do you use them? According to the Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition), they each have their specific uses. Let’s look at each one again:
- Hyphen
Hyphens are used in compound words and to separate characters (both numbers and letters).
She had eighty-five dollars to her name.
“Hyphen is spelled h-y-p-h-e-n.”
- En Dash
The en dash is primarily used to connect numbers. Think of it as a way to write “to” or “up to and including (or through).”
Their time in Kansas, 2003-2005, was educational and inspiring for both of them.
I’ve set aside 2 p.m.-4 p.m. to write.
The 11th Street-71st Street bus runs every day.
There is an exception to the above usage. When using the words “from” or “between” you need to use “to” and “and” respectively.
They lived in Kansas from 2003 to 2005.
I like to write between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day.
The en dash is also used to show that something is still going on, like someone’s life.
- Em Dash
Usually, when people refer to “a dash” they mean an em dash. Em dashes are used to set off an element of explanation in a sentence; to
separate the subject from the pronoun; and to indicate a sudden break, such as when someone gets cut off when speaking.
He won the race—by two car lengths—in record time.
Lights, camera, action—it had all the makings of a great movie scene.
“Thanks for calling, but I need to go check—“
“Mom! Come quick!”
- 2-Em Dash
The 2-em dash represents missing letters or words.
His crew chief is Drew Bricken——.
It was a dark and —— night.
- 3-Em Dash
The 3-em dash is used in bibliographies to represent the same author or editor named in the preceding entry.
———, Edge of Battle, Harper, 2006.
For a more complete explanation of how hyphens and dashes are used, pick up a copy of your favorite stylebook and start reading!
About The Author:
Kelly Huckaby is The HOME Writer, a freelance writer and web
designer who lives with her husband and five homeschooled children in Oklahoma. Her work has appeared in Cross & Quill,
Homeschooling Horizons and various homeschooling newsletters across the USA and Canada as well as many online magazines.
* This article is available for your publication, for a F-E-E.
This article may NOT be reprinted without monetary compensation and written permission from the author.
For reprint rights or comments/questions about this article, please contact the author.
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