How Do You Make A Dash? | Type It In Any App

Dashes look simple, yet they cause a surprising amount of editing mess. A dash can mean the short line in “part-time,” the mid-length mark in “2019–2025,” or the long pause in “I tried to leave—then the phone rang.” If you pick the wrong mark, readers still understand you, but the page can look rough and inconsistent.

This guide shows what each dash is, where each one fits, and the fastest ways to type them in Word, Google Docs, email, and web editors. You’ll end up with a clean dash you can make on demand, no guesswork. Save this cheat sheet for later.

Dash Types And What They Do

When people say “dash,” they often mean one of three characters: the hyphen (-), the en dash (–), or the em dash (—). Two more lines show up in real writing too: the minus sign (−) for math, and the figure dash (‒) in tables. They look close, yet they behave differently in search, copy-paste, and screen readers.

Mark Name	Looks Like	Where It Fits
Hyphen	–	Joins words: well-known, two-step, part-time
En Dash	–	Shows ranges: 9–11, pages 14–18, 2019–2025
Em Dash	—	Marks a break or aside inside a sentence
Minus Sign	−	Math and negatives: −5, 10 − 2
Figure Dash	‒	Keeps number columns aligned when a value is missing
Horizontal Bar	―	Rare in modern writing; sometimes seen in older layouts
Two-Em Dash	⸺	Older publishing: replaces a repeated name in a list

How Do You Make A Dash? Pick The Right One First

Before you hunt for a shortcut, decide which dash you need. Most common writing uses just two: the en dash (–) for ranges and the em dash (—) for breaks in a sentence. The hyphen (-) stays in its lane: it glues words together.

Use An Em Dash For A Break Or Interruption

An em dash can replace a comma pair, parentheses, or a colon when you want a stronger pause. It’s good for an aside that still belongs inside the sentence, not in a new sentence.

• One em dash can add a final thought—like this.
• Two em dashes can wrap an interruption—then you continue the sentence.

Spacing depends on the style you’re writing in. Many US book styles use no spaces around an em dash. Some news and web styles use spaces to keep the dash readable in narrow columns. Pick one and keep it consistent across the page.

Use An En Dash For Ranges

An en dash often reads as “to” or “through.” It’s the clean choice for spans of numbers, dates, and time.

• Time: 3–5 p.m.
• Pages: 112–119
• Years: 2022–2024

You’ll also see en dashes linking paired terms like New York–London. In casual writing, a rewrite may read smoother than a dash. Either way, avoid mixing “from” with a dash (from 3–5). Use “from 3 to 5” instead.

Use A Hyphen For Joined Words

Hyphens join words that act as a unit, often right before a noun: a well-built table, a two-page form. Many compounds lose the hyphen over time, so a dictionary can settle the spelling when you’re unsure.

Making A Dash On Any Device And App

If you’ve been asking “how do you make a dash?” the practical answer is: pick the character, then choose the method that matches where you type. Some editors swap two hyphens into an em dash on their own. Others leave your characters alone. These options work across common devices.

Type An Em Dash Or En Dash On Windows

On Windows, the classic method uses Alt codes typed on a number pad:

• Em dash (—): Alt + 0151
• En dash (–): Alt + 0150

No number pad? No problem. Use one of these routes:

• Use your app’s Insert > Symbol menu.
• Copy and paste — or – from a note you keep around.
• In Word, let auto-format turn hyphens into dashes.

Type An Em Dash Or En Dash On Mac

On a Mac, these shortcuts work in most apps:

• Em dash (—): Option + Shift + Hyphen
• En dash (–): Option + Hyphen

If you forget, open the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space), then search for “em dash” or “en dash.” It’s a quick rescue move when your hands can’t recall the shortcut.

Type Dashes In Microsoft Word

Word gives you two fast paths: built-in shortcuts and auto-formatting.

• Shortcut (number pad): Ctrl + Alt + Minus makes an em dash; Ctrl + Minus makes an en dash.
• Auto-format: type two hyphens with no spaces and Word can convert them into an em dash, depending on settings.

If you want a menu route, use Insert > Symbol > More Symbols and pick Em Dash or En Dash from the list.

Type Dashes In Google Docs

Google Docs can insert dashes from its menus even if you don’t know shortcuts:

1. Go to Insert > Special characters.
2. Search for “em dash” or “en dash.”
3. Click the character to insert it.

Docs may replace two hyphens with an em dash when certain smart typing settings are on. If it doesn’t, the special-character menu works each time.

Type Dashes On Phones And Tablets

On iPhone and many Android typing layouts, press and hold the hyphen character to reveal extra dash options. If your layout doesn’t show them, switch to the symbols view, or set a text replacement so “–” becomes “—” in your writing apps.

Chicago’s Q&A on hyphens and dashes points out that on-screen layouts often expose en and em dashes through a long-press on the hyphen. Chicago’s hyphens and dashes FAQ is a handy reference for entry methods and basic distinctions.

Spacing Rules That Keep Dashes Looking Clean

Spacing is where most dash mistakes live. Some spacing habits come from book publishing; others come from web writing and readability preferences. Pick one pattern and apply it consistently.

Em Dash Spacing

• No spaces (common in US books): word—word
• Spaces (common in some news styles): word — word

If you’re writing for a class, a journal, or a client, follow their style sheet. For general web writing, the no-space style looks clean, while spaced em dashes can read better in narrow columns and some fonts.

En Dash Spacing

En dashes in ranges take no spaces: 10–12, 2023–2024, pages 33–41. If you use words like “between” or “from,” switch to “and” or “to” instead of a dash to keep the line natural.

Dashes In Academic Writing And Citations

Academic styles often care about dashes in number ranges, page spans, and parenthetical interruptions. In many formats, an en dash is the standard mark for a range in parentheses and in references (like 113–119). In running text, some styles prefer words like “to” in place of a dash.

If you’re formatting papers, follow the rules of the style you’ve been assigned. APA’s punctuation page lists dashes among its punctuation rules and shows where each type fits. APA Style punctuation page is a direct place to start when you need the official wording for your course.

One more caution: don’t swap a minus sign for a dash in formulas. In math and data writing, the minus sign (−) is its own character. It’s wider than a hyphen in many fonts and it stays consistent in screen readers.

HTML Codes And Copy-Paste Safety

If you publish online, you might type a dash in one editor and see a different line appear after a paste. Most modern systems keep the character intact, yet it still helps to know the safe codes.

• Em dash: — or — (Unicode U+2014)
• En dash: – or – (Unicode U+2013)

Named entities (— and –) are readable in HTML and work in most publishing setups. If you’re working in plain text or a CMS editor, you can also copy and paste the real character—then double-check it after publishing.

Typing Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

Here’s a quick lookup table you can come back to when your brain blanks mid-sentence.

Where You Type	Em Dash (—)	En Dash (–)
Windows (Alt code, number pad)	Alt + 0151	Alt + 0150
Mac (most apps)	Option + Shift + Hyphen	Option + Hyphen
Word (number pad shortcut)	Ctrl + Alt + Minus	Ctrl + Minus
Word (auto-format)	Type two hyphens with no spaces	Type two hyphens with spaces
Google Docs	Insert > Special characters	Insert > Special characters
Phone and tablet	Press and hold the hyphen	Press and hold the hyphen
HTML	— or —	– or –

Common Dash Mistakes And Quick Fixes

Most dash trouble comes down to three patterns: using the wrong character, spacing it inconsistently, or letting auto-correct swap it without you noticing. Here’s how to spot the problems and clean them up fast.

Using A Hyphen For A Range

If you type 2019-2025, many readers accept it. Still, an en dash is the standard mark for ranges in many styles. If your editor makes en dashes hard to enter, a hyphen is fine as a fallback, but avoid clunky workarounds like “2019 — 2025.”

Overusing The Em Dash

Em dashes add drama. That punch fades if each paragraph uses them. If you see three em dashes in a short block, swap one for a period or a pair of commas and see if the paragraph breathes better.

Stacking Punctuation Next To A Dash

In most styles, you don’t stack a comma next to an em dash. Pick one mark. If you’re writing dialogue, place the dash at the break point and keep the rest of the punctuation normal.

Letting Auto-Correct Change Meaning In Math

Some editors turn “1 – 2” into “1–2” or “word–word” into “word—word.” That’s handy when it matches your intent. It’s a problem when it turns a minus sign into an en dash in math writing. In equations, use the real minus sign (−) for subtraction and negative numbers.

Mixing Spacing Styles On The Same Page

A page with both “word—word” and “word — word” looks inconsistent, even if both are accepted styles. Decide on one spacing pattern at the start of a project, then apply it across headings, body text, and captions.

Quick Editing Routine For Clean Dashes

If you want consistent punctuation, a short check at the end saves time later.

1. Search for “–” and replace it with an em dash where it fits.
2. Search for spaced hyphens in ranges (like “10 – 12”) and change them to an en dash (10–12) when your style allows it.
3. Scan headings and titles for mixed dash styles, then standardize them.
4. Read one paragraph aloud. If the dash pauses feel heavy, split a long sentence into two.

One-Line Reminder To Keep Handy

If you catch yourself asking “how do you make a dash?” while writing, use this: on Mac, Option + Shift + Hyphen gives —; on Windows, Alt + 0151 gives —; and most editors can insert it through a symbol menu.