How to Use a Dash: Em Dash, En Dash and Hyphen

5 November 2026 · 6 min read

There are three dash-like marks, and each has its own job. The hyphen (-) joins words, as in "well-known." The en dash (–) shows ranges and connections, as in "pages 10–15" or "the London–Paris train." The em dash (—) marks a break in a sentence, setting off an aside or adding emphasis, as in "She finally answered—three days later." Use the em dash sparingly; a comma, colon or parentheses often does the job better.

Below are the rules for each mark, the spacing differences between styles and how to type them.

The three marks at a glance

The names come from typesetting: an en dash was roughly the width of a capital N and an em dash the width of a capital M.

The hyphen

Compound modifiers before a noun

When two or more words act together as one adjective before a noun, hyphenate them:

a long-term plan

a five-year-old child

an up-to-date list

After the noun, usually drop the hyphen:

The plan is long term.

The list is up to date.

Do not hyphenate after adverbs ending in "-ly": "a highly rated film," not "a highly-rated film."

Compound words and prefixes

Some compounds are always hyphenated ("mother-in-law," "self-esteem"), some are closed ("notebook") and some are open ("high school"). Dictionaries disagree and usage changes over time, so check the dictionary your style guide follows.

Prefixes usually attach without a hyphen ("preheat," "rewrite"), but hyphens appear before capitals ("pre-Victorian"), with "self-," "ex-" and "all-" ("ex-partner") and to avoid confusion ("re-cover" a sofa vs "recover" from flu).

Numbers and fractions

Hyphenate compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine and spelled-out fractions used as modifiers: "a two-thirds majority."

The en dash

Ranges

Use an en dash for spans of numbers, dates and times, with no spaces in most styles:

pages 45–62

1914–1918

Monday–Friday

9:00–5:30

If you introduce a range with "from" or "between," use words instead: "from 1914 to 1918," "between 2 and 4 p.m.," not "from 1914–1918."

Connections and conflicts

An en dash can show a relationship between two equal elements:

the Paris–Berlin route

a 3–1 win

the doctor–patient relationship

Compound adjectives with open compounds

In more formal typesetting, an en dash joins a modifier to an open compound: "a New York–based firm," "post–World War II housing." Many writers and some style guides simply use a hyphen here. Either way, be consistent.

The em dash

Setting off an aside

A pair of em dashes works like a pair of commas or parentheses, but stronger:

The committee—after six hours of argument—approved the budget.

Commas would make the aside feel ordinary. Parentheses would make it feel minor. Em dashes make it stand out.

Adding emphasis or a sudden turn

A single em dash can introduce a punchline, explanation or change of direction at the end of a sentence:

He had prepared for everything—except rain.

A colon could work here too, but the em dash feels more abrupt and conversational.

Showing interrupted speech

In dialogue, an em dash shows that someone was cut off:

"I was going to tell you, but—"

"But what?"

An ellipsis, by contrast, shows speech trailing off.

Replacing a missing word or letters

Em dashes (sometimes doubled) can stand in for omitted text, such as a redacted name, though this is mostly found in older or literary writing.

Don't overdo it

Em dashes are easy to reach for and easy to overuse. A paragraph with three of them feels breathless. If you notice several on a page, change most to commas, colons, parentheses or full stops. Many readers also now associate heavy em dash use with machine-generated text, which is one more reason to keep them for moments that really need them. A grammar checker can help you spot inconsistent dashes, but deciding when one is effective is a style call.

Spacing: US vs UK style

In British publishing, a spaced en dash ( – ) frequently does the job of an American em dash. Whichever you choose, apply it consistently throughout a document. Ranges stay unspaced in all of these.

How to type each dash

On phones, press and hold the hyphen key to see the en and em dash options. Many apps also have a symbol or special characters menu.

Common mistakes

• Hyphen for a range in formal writing: "pages 10-15" is common in casual text, but formal style uses "10–15."
• Hyphen as a sentence break: "I was late - again" should use an em dash or a spaced en dash.
• Mixing "from" with a dash: "from 2010–2015" should be "from 2010 to 2015."
• Hyphen after "-ly" adverbs: "a beautifully-written essay" should be "a beautifully written essay."
• Inconsistent spacing: switching between spaced and unspaced em dashes in one document.

For a final pass on punctuation in longer pieces, an English grammar check can catch many hyphenation slips.

FAQ

What is the difference between an em dash and an en dash?

An en dash (–) is shorter and is mainly used for ranges and connections, such as "2010–2020" or "the north–south divide." An em dash (—) is longer and marks a break in a sentence, such as an aside or a sudden turn.

Do you put spaces around an em dash?

It depends on the style guide. Chicago and most book publishers use no spaces. AP style, used by many news organisations, puts a space on each side. In UK writing, a spaced en dash often replaces the em dash.

Can I use a hyphen instead of a dash?

In informal writing, many people do, and readers understand. In formal writing, use the correct mark: an en dash for ranges and an em dash (or spaced en dash in UK style) for breaks in a sentence.

When should I use an em dash instead of a comma?

Use an em dash when you want an aside or addition to stand out more than commas would allow, or when a sentence takes an abrupt turn. If the aside is ordinary, commas usually read more smoothly.