How to Type an Em Dash: 5 Easy Methods for Windows, Mac, Word, and Google Docs

Need an em dash right now? Copy this one: —. For repeat typing, use the Windows numeric-keypad code, Windows Symbols panel, Mac keyboard shortcut, Word’s character dialog, or Google Docs’ special-character picker. The five options below work in different situations; pick the one that matches your keyboard and app.

Em dash, en dash, and hyphen: what’s the difference?

The marks look similar but serve different purposes: em dash —, en dash –, and hyphen -. An em dash can set off an interruption or an explanatory phrase. An en dash often connects a range, such as “pages 12–18.” A hyphen joins parts of a word, as in “step-by-step.” The em dash is Unicode character U+2014, which is useful when a dialog asks for a character code. In American English, em dashes are commonly set without spaces, though a publication’s style guide takes priority.

Choose a method

1. Type an em dash in Windows with an Alt code

Place the cursor in a text field, hold Alt, enter 0151 on the numeric keypad, and release Alt. Include the leading zero. Microsoft lists Alt+0151 for the em dash; Alt+0150 is the en dash, so the final digit matters. Turn on Num Lock if your keypad requires it. The number row above the letters usually won’t substitute for a separate numeric keypad.

2. Use the Windows Symbols panel

If there’s no numeric keypad, press Windows key + period (.) to open the Emoji and more panel. Choose Symbols (the omega icon), then browse the punctuation marks and click the em dash. It is inserted at the active cursor in the app. The exact grid can vary by Windows version, so look for the long dash rather than relying on a fixed grid position. Microsoft’s Windows keyboard tips describe the Symbols panel and Alt codes.

3. Use the Mac keyboard shortcut or Character Viewer

On a Mac using the common U.S. keyboard layout, press Option + Shift + hyphen (-). The hyphen key is beside the zero key. If your keyboard layout produces a different character, open Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for “em dash,” and select the mark. Apple documents Character Viewer as a way to enter characters and explains that keyboard layouts affect which key combinations work.

4. Insert the character in Microsoft Word

In desktop Word, click where the dash should go, then choose Insert > Symbol > More Symbols. Open the Special Characters tab, select Em Dash, and double-click it (or choose Insert, then Close). The symbol dialog is useful when you do not want to memorize a key combination. Word for Windows also documents Ctrl + Alt + the minus key on the numeric keypad as a direct em-dash shortcut. See Microsoft’s Word symbol instructions and Word keyboard shortcuts.

5. Insert an em dash in Google Docs

In a Google Doc, place the cursor, open Insert > Symbols > Special characters, then enter the Unicode value 2014 or choose the punctuation category. Click the em dash to insert it. You can also draw the character in the picker if you do not know its name. Google’s special-character instructions cover the available ways to find and insert symbols.

If the wrong dash appears

Check the glyph before continuing: — is the em dash; – is the shorter en dash; - is a hyphen. If Alt+0151 fails, confirm you used the numeric keypad and included the zero. If a Mac shortcut does not match your layout, use Character Viewer. In Word or Docs, the insertion menus avoid keyboard-layout differences. On Mac, some apps can also convert two hyphens into an em dash when smart dashes are enabled; Apple notes that text substitutions and smart dashes are not available in every app. See its Mac punctuation settings for that option.