Quick answer
Copy — above. On Windows with a numeric keypad, use Alt + 0151. On a U.S. Mac keyboard, press Option + Shift + hyphen. Word can convert two hyphens automatically.
Em dash shortcuts at a glance
An em dash creates a strong break in a sentence—stronger than a comma and more flexible than parentheses. The character is a single long dash, not a hyphen stretched with formatting.
| Platform | Method |
|---|---|
| Windows | Hold Alt, type 0151 on the numeric keypad, release |
| Mac (U.S.) | Option + Shift + - |
| Microsoft Word | Type 2014, then Alt + X |
| Google Docs | Insert → Symbols → Special characters → search “em dash” |
| iPhone/Android | Press and hold the hyphen key, then select — |
Type an em dash on Windows
With Num Lock on, hold Alt, enter 0151 on the numeric keypad, and release Alt. If your laptop has no keypad, copy the dash, use Character Map, or open a symbol picker supported by your application.
Some Windows editors convert two hyphens (--) after you finish a word or add a space. That is an application preference, not an operating-system shortcut, so it may work in Word but not in a browser form.
Type an em dash on a Mac
On the U.S. keyboard layout, press Option + Shift + the hyphen key. An en dash uses Option + hyphen without Shift, which makes the pair easier to remember.
If your input source differs, use Character Viewer: press Control + Command + Space, search “em dash,” and insert it. Character Viewer is also useful when you need to compare the em dash, en dash, minus sign, and hyphen visually.
Add — in Word and Google Docs
In Word, type 2014 and press Alt + X. Word can also create an em dash through AutoFormat when two hyphens appear between words, though the exact conversion depends on your settings.
In Google Docs, choose Insert → Symbols → Special characters and search for “em dash.” You can also configure a personal substitution under Tools → Preferences if you type it often. Pick a trigger that will not interfere with code or ordinary hyphenated words.
Em dash, en dash, hyphen, and minus sign
These characters have different jobs:
| Character | Name | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
- |
Hyphen-minus | Compound words and plain-text fallback |
– |
En dash | Ranges such as 9–5, or relationships in some styles |
— |
Em dash | Interruption, emphasis, or a strong sentence break |
− |
Minus sign | Mathematical subtraction and negative values |
Using the correct character improves typography and keeps search, speech, and data processing predictable. Do not create a long dash by underlining spaces or scaling a hyphen.
Spacing and editorial style
Many American publishing styles set em dashes closed—without spaces—while other house styles prefer a space on each side. Neither visual convention changes the character itself. Follow the style guide for the document rather than mixing patterns on the same page.
Avoid overusing the mark. An em dash is effective because it signals a meaningful break; a paragraph filled with them can become tiring and ambiguous.
Use an em dash on the web
UTF-8 HTML can contain — directly. The named entity is —, and the numeric form is —. Use actual text instead of a decorative line so the punctuation remains available to screen readers and copied text.
Troubleshooting
If the Alt code does nothing, use the numeric keypad and confirm Num Lock. If two hyphens stay unchanged, check the application’s AutoCorrect or substitution settings. If an exported file turns the dash into a question mark, save and serve the content as UTF-8.
References and compatibility
These platform references explain the input methods used above. Availability varies by app and keyboard layout; a Unicode value is not automatically a numeric-keypad Alt code.
Editorial note: Shortcuts can vary by keyboard layout and app. Check the stated platform and use the copy-and-paste fallback when needed. Report a correction with your device, layout, and application; see our editorial policy for limitations.