Alt Codes & Keyboard Shortcuts
Em Dash Shortcut
The long editorial dash, typed directly.
—
- Windows
- Alt + 0151
- Mac
- Option + Shift + Hyphen
- Unicode
- U+2014
Try Em Dash Shortcut
Edit the text, then change the font and size.
About this entry
What it is
The long editorial dash, typed directly.
Writing that needs a sharper break than a comma.
Copy & use
How to copy and use em dash shortcut
- 01
Copy the complete value
Use the copy button above so the value is captured without its label, description or surrounding page text.
- 02
Paste it where you need it
Writing that needs a sharper break than a comma.
- 03
Check the final result
Windows Alt codes may require a numeric keypad and Num Lock. Laptop keyboards, browser fields and regional layouts can behave differently, so copying is the dependable fallback.
What it is for
When to reach for —
The em dash breaks a sentence more sharply than a comma while staying less formal than a colon. British style often sets it with spaces; American style usually closes it up.
Getting the shortcut to work
Word processors often convert two hyphens into an em dash automatically, which is why the character appears in documents nobody deliberately inserted it into. The Windows code needs the numeric keypad with Num Lock on — the number row above the letters will not work. On a laptop without a keypad, use the copy button above or Windows Character Map.
Easily confused
Characters that look like —
These are separate characters. They may look almost identical on screen, but they sort, search and compare differently.
En dash
Half the width, and used for ranges and spans: 1914–18, London–Paris. Not interchangeable.
Hyphen-minus
The key on the keyboard. It joins compound words and is far too short to break a sentence.
Common questions
Using em dash shortcut
What is em dash shortcut?
The long editorial dash, typed directly. Writing that needs a sharper break than a comma.
How do I type Em Dash Shortcut without copying it?
On Windows: Alt + 0151. On macOS: Option + Shift + Hyphen. Windows Alt codes need the numeric keypad with Num Lock on, so laptops without one are usually quicker to serve by the copy button above.
Will em dash shortcut work everywhere?
Windows Alt codes may require a numeric keypad and Num Lock. Laptop keyboards, browser fields and regional layouts can behave differently, so copying is the dependable fallback.
Can I customise em dash shortcut after copying?
You can add a short label, repeat compatible symbols or trim the design to fit. Keep important spaces, line breaks and uncommon Unicode characters intact while editing.
Also known as
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