Using m dash12/3/2023 for suggesting keyboard shortcuts for Mac users. You can then use your word processor’s find and replace function to replace the hyphens with the correct symbol later.ĭo you use a Mac? Let us know how you insert em dashes and en dashes into your writing in the comments section below. If your only option is to use the character map (the least efficient option), consider inserting two hyphens for em dashes in your document for now. There are many ways to create em dashes and en dashes on your laptop. Note: This tool does much more than replace en and em dashes, making it well worth the investment. Run this tool during the proofreading stage of a document. Purchase an Add-on (Word only).Įditorium’s Editor’s Toolkit Plus has a feature called File Cleaner that turns hyphens between numbers into en dashes and two hyphens into em-dashes, even removing spaces around em dashes, if that’s your preferred style. In Google Docs, go to Insert, Special Characters. In Word 2010 and up, you’ll need to go to Insert, Symbol. In Scrivener, you can access your operating system’s character map by going to Edit, Character Map. Using you operating system’s search function, type in “character map.” A grid with symbols will pop up, and you can select the em dash or en dash and copy and paste it into your document. Use your operating system’s character map. In Google Docs, go to Tools, Preferences. If you want to do the same in Scrivener, go to Tool, Options, Corrections, Edit Substitutions. em (dot em) in Microsoft Word, it will be replaced by an em dash, and. Select the AutoCorrect tab and add these keyboard shortcuts in the Replace and With fields: In Word (Office 365) and up, go to File, Options, Proofing, and click on the AutoCorrect Options button. There isn’t an autocorrect option out of the box for an en dash, though. So, you can try this: Out of the box, Word and Scrivener will do the same. In Google Docs, if you type two hyphens followed by a space, those two hyphens will be changed to an em dash. Use your word processor’s built-in autocorrect function. For these programs, try one of the options that follow. Note: Keyboard shortcuts using Unicode character codes don’t work in Scrivener, Gmail, or Google docs. You can look up other Unicode character codes here. Most compact PC laptop keyboards won’t allow you to use Alt codes to create em dashes and en dashes, but you can use Unicode character codes in most instances: With this set-up, there are no problems creating em and en dashes in my usual way-using Alt codes.īut what if you prefer to use your laptop on-the-go, as it’s intended? Read on… 3. This option will only be appealing to you if you tend to use your laptop like a desktop.įor editing documents, I like to plug my laptop into a massive monitor and attach a wireless mouse and full-size keyboard, complete with a number keypad.Īlternatively, you can plug in a portable USB number keypad and use your laptop keyboard and touchpad. Plug in a full-size external keyboard or keypad. My usual keyboard shortcuts don’t work on my portable laptop, though. Em dash (-): Shift-Alt-hyphen or Command + M.On a regular-size keyboard with a number keypad, I can use keyboard shortcuts to create em dashes and en dashes: (You know there are three kinds of dashes in written English, right? Use them correctly in your writing and you will impress a copyeditor!) 1. It’s a marvel of a machine except for one thing: because it doesn’t have a numeric keypad (less keyboard = better portability), I cannot create em dashes (-) and en dashes (–) in my usual way. Using an en dash for this phrase may better clarify the intent for readers over using a hyphen.I have all-in-one laptop that weighs the same as a tablet. However, consider the open compound expression apple orchard scented candle. Some writers and publishers prefer using an en dash for these situations, but a hyphen would work as well. New York and Charles Dickens are called open compounds in these cases because we would not normally hyphenate them. We expect 300–325 people at the reception.Įn dashes also can be used to punctuate open compound adjectives like New York based artist or Charles Dickens inspired writer. The student council will meet Thursday, 3:15–3:45 p.m.ĭuring the years 1999–2016, Joshua lived in Fargo, North Dakota. Like hyphens, they can be used for number ranges (see Rule 6 of Hyphens Between Words). Some writers and publishers prefer spaces around dashes.Įxample: Joe - and his trusty mutt - was always welcome.Įn dashes are shorter than em dashes and longer than hyphens.
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