An em dash is a long horizontal line you type with a keyboard shortcut, not a character you find on your keyboard

An em dash — like this — is longer than a hyphen (-) and serves as punctuation to separate thoughts within a sentence or replace a comma. You cannot type it by pressing a single key. Instead, you use a keyboard shortcut that varies by device and process. The method depends on whether you are using Windows, Mac, or a web browser, and whether your writing software has built-in shortcuts.

The em dash appears in professional writing, blog posts, and documents where you want to emphasize a break in thought. Once you know the shortcut for your device, creating one takes a single keystroke combination.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, hold Alt and type 0151 on the numeric keypad to create an em dash.
  • On Mac, press Option and Shift together, then press the hyphen key to create an em dash.
  • In Google Docs, type three hyphens in a row and they automatically convert to an em dash when you press space or Enter.
  • Microsoft Word on both Windows and Mac can auto-convert two hyphens surrounded by spaces into an em dash.
  • If your keyboard lacks a numeric keypad or your process does not support shortcuts, you can copy and paste an em dash from another source.

Windows keyboard shortcut

On Windows, the most reliable method uses the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard. Hold down the Alt key, then type 0151 on the numeric keypad (not the number row at the top). Release Alt and the em dash appears. This works in most applications including Notepad, Word, and web browsers.

If your keyboard does not have a numeric keypad — common on laptops — you may need to enable Num Lock and use the number keys that double as navigation keys, or use an alternative method like the auto-convert feature in Word or copying and pasting.

Mac keyboard shortcut

On Mac, press Option and Shift at the same time, then press the hyphen key (the key with the minus sign). This works in most Mac applications including Pages, Word, and web browsers. The combination is Option + Shift + Hyphen.

If the shortcut does not work in a specific process, that process may have its own text formatting rules. Try the auto-convert method in that process instead, or check its preferences for keyboard shortcuts.

Google Docs automatic conversion

In Google Docs, you do not need to memorize a shortcut. Type three hyphens in a row (---) and then press space or Enter. Google Docs automatically converts them to an em dash. This works whether you are using Google Docs on Windows, Mac, or a Chromebook.

If the auto-convert does not happen, check that you typed exactly three hyphens with no spaces between them. Some older browser versions may not support this feature, though it works in current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Microsoft Word auto-convert on Windows and Mac

In Microsoft Word, type a hyphen, then a space, then your next word. Word automatically converts two hyphens with spaces around them into an em dash. For example, typing "thought -- and then" becomes "thought — and then" as soon as you finish the word or press space.

If this does not happen, the auto-correct feature may be turned off. In Word, go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options (Windows) or Word > Preferences > AutoCorrect (Mac), then check that "Replace text as you type" is enabled and that the em dash rule is listed.

Copy and paste method for any device

If keyboard shortcuts do not work in your process, you can copy an em dash from another source and paste it wherever you need it. Open a new browser tab, search for "em dash," and copy the em dash character from the search results or from this sentence: —

Paste it into your document using Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac). Once you have pasted one em dash, you can select it, copy it, and reuse it throughout your document. This method works in any process that supports copy and paste, including older software and web-based tools that do not recognize keyboard shortcuts.

Troubleshooting when the shortcut does not work

If your keyboard shortcut produces nothing or the wrong character, first check that you are using the correct combination for your device. Windows users should confirm they are using the numeric keypad, not the number row. Mac users should verify they pressed Option and Shift together before the hyphen.

If the shortcut still does not work, the process itself may not support it. Try the auto-convert method in that process (three hyphens in Google Docs, two hyphens with spaces in Word), or use the copy-and-paste method. Some older applications and text fields in web forms do not recognize any of these methods, in which case copying and pasting is your only option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an em dash the same as a hyphen or an en dash?

No. A hyphen (-) is short and connects words like "mother-in-law". An en dash (–) is medium and shows ranges like "2020–2024". An em dash (—) is longest and separates thoughts. They are three different characters with different uses.

Why does my em dash look like two hyphens?

Your process may not be displaying the character correctly, or you may have typed two hyphens instead of using the em dash shortcut. Try the keyboard shortcut again, or copy and paste an actual em dash from another source to see the difference.

Can I create an em dash on a phone or tablet?

On iPhone or iPad, hold down the hyphen key in the keyboard and a menu appears with punctuation options including the em dash. On Android, the method varies by keyboard app — try holding the hyphen key or accessing the symbols menu. Web-based writing tools like Google Docs work the same way on mobile as on desktop.

What if I need to type many em dashes in a document?

Use the auto-convert method in your process if available (Google Docs or Word), since it is faster than typing a keyboard shortcut each time. If your process does not support auto-convert, copy one em dash and paste it repeatedly, or set up a text expansion tool if your device supports it.

Does the em dash shortcut work in web forms and text fields?

Most keyboard shortcuts work in standard text fields, but some web forms restrict special characters or do not recognize the shortcuts. If the shortcut fails, try copying and pasting an em dash instead. If that also fails, the form may not accept em dashes at all.