You Need an Em Dash and Your Keyboard Doesn’t Have One
You’re writing a document, crafting an email, or working on a novel. You want to insert a pause—a dramatic break in thought—or set off a parenthetical phrase. The humble hyphen feels too weak, and the double hyphen looks unprofessional. What you need is the em dash.
If you’re on a Windows PC, you’ve probably searched for how to make this punctuation mark appear. Unlike a period or comma, it’s not sitting there on your keyboard waiting to be pressed. This leaves many writers using two hyphens or awkwardly copying and pasting from a web search.
Knowing how to quickly type an em dash is a small but powerful skill. It makes your writing cleaner, more authoritative, and properly formatted. Let’s solve this problem directly.
What Exactly Is an Em Dash?
Before we get to the how, let’s clarify the what. The em dash (—) is a long horizontal line. Its name comes from traditional typography, where it was roughly the width of the capital letter “M” in a given font.
It serves several key purposes in modern writing:
– It indicates a sudden break in thought or an interruption in dialogue. “I was going to tell him—never mind, it’s not important.”
– It can set off a parenthetical phrase for emphasis, often more forcefully than commas or parentheses. The solution—despite all the complications—was surprisingly simple.
– It can be used before a summary or explanation of what came before. Chocolate, cheese, wine—these were the essentials.
It is distinct from the shorter en dash (–), which is typically used for ranges (pages 10–15) or connections (the Boston–New York train). For most everyday writing needs, the em dash is the workhorse you’re looking for.
Why Windows Makes It Seem Complicated
Windows doesn’t have a dedicated em dash key because it’s a relatively specialized typographic character. The standard US keyboard layout is designed for letters, numbers, and common symbols. Advanced punctuation requires either memorizing a numeric code, using a specific software feature, or creating a custom shortcut.
The good news is that once you learn one or two methods, inserting an em dash becomes as fast as typing any other symbol.
The Universal Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Code
The most reliable method that works across almost all Windows applications is the Alt code. This involves holding down the Alt key and typing a specific number sequence on your numeric keypad.
Here is the step-by-step process:
1. Ensure your Num Lock is turned on. You need the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard, not the number row at the top.
2. Place your cursor in the text field where you want the em dash to appear.
3. Press and hold down the Alt key.
4. While holding Alt, type the numbers 0, 1, 5, 1 in sequence on the numeric keypad.
5. Release the Alt key. The em dash (—) will instantly appear.
This method works in Word, Google Docs in a browser, Notepad, email clients, and most other text boxes. It’s the closest thing to a universal “em dash key” on Windows.
What If You Don’t Have a Numeric Keypad?
Many laptops and compact keyboards lack a dedicated numeric keypad. If that’s your situation, the standard Alt code method won’t work. Don’t worry, you have several other effective options.
First, check if your laptop has a hidden numeric keypad function. Often, certain letter keys (usually J, K, L, U, I, O) have small numbers printed on them in a different color. You can typically activate this by pressing a Function (Fn) key along with another key labeled “NumLk” or “Num Lock.” The process varies by manufacturer, so you may need to consult your laptop’s manual.
If that seems too cumbersome, the following methods are much simpler for laptop users.
Using the Built-in Tools in Microsoft Word
If you do most of your writing in Microsoft Word, the application has intelligent features that can create an em dash for you automatically.
Method 1: AutoFormat As You Type
Word has an autocorrect option that converts two hyphens into an em dash. You need to ensure this setting is enabled.
1. Go to File > Options (or Word > Preferences on older versions).
2. Select Proofing, then click the AutoCorrect Options button.
3. In the AutoCorrect dialog box, go to the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
4. Check the box that says “Hyphens (–) with dash (—).”
5. Click OK to save the settings.
Now, whenever you type two hyphens (–) between words with no spaces, Word will automatically replace them with a proper em dash. For example, typing “word–word” becomes “word—word”.
Method 2: The Insert Symbol Menu
You can manually insert the character from Word’s symbol library.
1. Click on the Insert tab in the ribbon.
2. On the far right, click Symbol, then More Symbols.
3. In the Symbol dialog box, ensure the font is set to (normal text).
4. Scroll down the list or set the Subset to “General Punctuation.”
5. Find and select the em dash (—).
6. Click Insert, then Close.
For frequent use, you can select the em dash in this dialog and click the Shortcut Key button to assign a custom keyboard combination, like Ctrl+Alt+M, for future use.
How to Type an Em Dash in Google Docs
For those who work primarily in Google’s ecosystem, the process is different but just as straightforward.
The Simple Menu Insert
1. Click Insert in the top menu.
2. Hover over Special characters.
3. In the pop-up window, you can either type “em dash” in the search box or draw the symbol in the drawing area.
4. Click on the em dash to insert it into your document.
The Faster Keyboard Shortcut
Google Docs supports a specific keyboard shortcut that is incredibly fast once memorized.
1. Place your cursor where you want the dash.
2. Press and hold the Alt key.
3. While holding Alt, type the minus sign (-) on your numeric keypad. (On a laptop without a keypad, you may need to use the Fn key combination to access a numeric function).
4. Release the Alt key. An em dash will appear.
Note: This shortcut only works within the Google Docs application. It will not work in other web text fields.
Creating a Custom Windows AutoCorrect Entry
If you want a system-wide solution that works in any program—from your email client to Slack to Notepad—you can create a custom text replacement using a built-in Windows tool called the Touch Keyboard or a third-party text expander.
Using the Windows Touch Keyboard
1. Click the Start menu and type “Touch keyboard” and open the settings.
2. Ensure the touch keyboard is enabled in your taskbar. You can right-click the taskbar and select “Show touch keyboard button.”
3. Open the touch keyboard, then click the &123 key to switch to symbols.
4. Long-press the hyphen key (-). A small menu will pop up showing the en dash (–) and em dash (—).
5. Slide your finger over to the em dash and release to insert it.
This method is visual and doesn’t require memorizing codes, though it involves several clicks.
Using a Text Expander Application
For power users, a dedicated text expander like AutoHotkey (free) or PhraseExpress (freemium) is the ultimate solution. You can set it up so that typing a specific sequence, like “emdash”, is instantly replaced with —.
This gives you a consistent, fast method across your entire operating system, not just one program.
Troubleshooting Common Em Dash Problems
Even with the right method, you might run into issues. Here’s how to solve them.
The Alt Code Produces a Different Character
If Alt+0151 gives you a weird symbol like “Û”, it usually means one of two things. First, you are not using the numeric keypad. You must use the number keys on the separate keypad, not the number row above the letters. Second, your Num Lock might be off. Toggle the Num Lock key and try again.
The Em Dash Looks Too Big or Too Small
The appearance of the em dash is determined by the font you are using. In most modern proportional fonts (like Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri), it will be the correct width. In some monospaced or coding fonts (like Consolas, Courier New), all characters, including dashes, have the same width, which can make the em dash look unusually long. This is normal for those fonts. If you need typographically correct dashes, use a standard word processing font.
Two Hyphens Aren’t Converting Automatically
If you’re in Word and typing — doesn’t change to —, the AutoCorrect setting is likely disabled. Follow the steps outlined earlier to enable “Hyphens (–) with dash (—)” in the AutoFormat As You Type settings. Also, ensure there are no spaces between the hyphens and the surrounding words; “word — word” will not convert, but “word–word” will.
When to Use an Em Dash Versus Other Dashes
Knowing how to type it is half the battle; knowing when to use it completes the skill.
– Use an em dash for dramatic breaks, strong parenthetical statements, or to set off a list summary.
– Use an en dash (–, Alt+0150) for ranges of numbers, dates, or times (2010–2020, pages 5–10) or to indicate a connection between two things (the London–Paris train).
– Use a hyphen (-) for compound words (well-known) or to break a word at the end of a line.
Overusing em dashes can make your writing feel breathless or fragmented. Use them for deliberate effect, not as a replacement for every comma or period.
Make the Em Dash a Natural Part of Your Writing Toolkit
Start by picking one method that fits your workflow. If you live in Microsoft Word, enable the auto-replace for two hyphens. If you need a universal solution, memorize the Alt+0151 code. For Google Docs users, the Alt + numeric minus shortcut is your best friend.
Practice it a few times in a blank document. The muscle memory will build quickly. Soon, inserting that crisp, professional dash will be an unconscious action, allowing you to focus on what really matters: the content of your writing.
The barrier isn’t complexity; it’s just knowing the right combination of keys. Now that you do, your punctuation can be as precise and effective as your words.
