A Dashing Lesson on Em Dashes and En Dashes

Correct Use

  • Em dashes emphasize extra information in a sentence. In many cases, they can replace parentheses, colons, and commas:
  • Everyone was happy about the company’s change to paid family leavefrom the kids, to the parents, and the grandparents!
  • En dashes represent a range between numbers, dates, and times, and establish a relationship between words and ideas:
  • From December 6th14th, I’ll be on motherdaughter vacation.


Em Dash vs. En Dash

An em dash and en dash look alike. They even have similar-sounding names. But em dashes () and en dashes () play different roles. Read on to learn how to properly use these popular punctuations, and how they can help organize and enhance your writing.

The difference between the em dash and the en dash explained

How to Properly Use an Em Dash

An em dash is the longest of the dashes. Because it is so versatile—it can replace parentheses, commas, and colons—it is a popular punctuation mark among writers.

1) Replacing Parentheses

(Keep in mind that British English refers to parentheses as brackets.)

Em dashes emphasize information more strongly compared to parentheses, but are considered less formal. A pair of em dashes are needed to replace a pair of parentheses placed in between a sentence, and surrounding punctuation should be omitted.

She played several types of instruments (seven, to be exact), but always wanted to learn more.
She played several types of instrumentsseven, to be exactbut always wanted to learn more.

Use only one em dash when replacing a pair of parentheses at the end of a sentence.

She played seven types of instruments (piano, guitar, violin, bass, cello, saxophone, and trumpet).
She played seven types of instrumentspiano, guitar, violin, bass, cello, saxophone, and trumpet.

2) Replacing Commas

Two em dashes can take the place of a comma and improve the readability and flow of a sentence.

They visited Florence, Rome, and Venicetheir favorite citiesduring their vacation.

That same sentence with no em dashes may look and read a bit clunky.

They visited Florence, Rome, and Venice, their favorite cities, during their vacation.

3) Replacing Colons

Like colons, em dashes add emphasis to information after a sentence.

His son ate the candy from the bagall 100 pieces!

Usually, em dashes do not need spacing before or after, but this is a stylistic choice that varies. Newspapers and other outlets that follow AP style add a space.

When using em dashes, remember that they are more emphatic, but less formal. So, as with any other punctuation mark, use them only when appropriate.


How to Properly Use an En Dash

The en dash is shorter than the em dash but longer than the hyphen. Like em dashes, they have multiple uses.

1) Indicating a Span or Range between Numbers, Dates, and Times

An en dash should be read as “to” or “through” when it is being used to represent a span or range between numbers, dates, and times.

We have a meeting every Thursday, 11:00 AM12:00 PM.
The students were supposed to read pages 1922 for homework.
The home team lost, 2814.

Avoid using an en dash if you establish a range using the words “from” or “between.”

2) Establishing a Relationship or Conflict Between Words or Ideas

En dashes also indicate that two words have some sort of connection.

They went to a Real MadridBarcelona match.
The clownfishsea anemone relationship is symbiotic.
If you need help visualizing which is which, remember that the em dash is longer—about the length of the letter “M,”— and the en dash is about the length of the letter “N.”

How Can I Avoid the Confusion About Dashes and Hyphens?

Typing an em dash or en dash depends on the system and word processor you’re using. Sometimes, clicking the hyphen key twice will automatically produce an em dash. If that doesn’t work, look for the “Insert” button, then click “Special characters,” and look for the necessary dash. This might sound a little tedious, but luckily, LanguageTool will automatically suggest hyphens be switched to an em dash or en dash, depending on the sentence. Additionally, the intelligent editor will also check for spelling and grammar mistakes so that your writing flows smoothly, is error-free, and easy to read.