How to Type an Em Dash (—)
Fastest method: Alt+0151 on Windows (with Num Lock on), or Option+Shift+- on Mac. You can also copy the symbol directly below.
Em Dash
U+2014
Windows (Alt code)
Alt+0151
Word (anywhere)
2014, Alt+X
Mac (Option key)
Option+Shift+-
Unicode code point
U+2014
HTML entity
—
FAQ
How do I type — on Windows?
Turn on Num Lock, hold the Alt key, then type 0151 on the numeric keypad. Release Alt and the em dash — appears.
How do I type — on Mac?
Press Option+Shift+- (the hyphen key). This shortcut works in almost every macOS app.
How do I insert — in Word or Google Docs?
In Word, type 2014 then immediately press Alt+X — the code turns into —. Word also often auto-converts word--word (two hyphens, no spaces) into an em dash as soon as you type the next word.
What's the difference between an em dash (—) and an en dash (–)?
The em dash (—) marks a strong break or an aside in a sentence. The en dash (–) is mainly used for ranges (e.g. 10–20) or to connect two related words. The HTML entity for the em dash is — (or —).