The Em Dash and the En Dash: What They Are—and Why They Matter
Dashes are small marks with surprisingly big responsibilities. Used well, they clarify meaning, control rhythm, and add polish to your writing. Used poorly, they create confusion—or quietly signal inexperience.
Two dashes cause the most trouble: the em dash (—) and the en dash (–). They look similar, but they serve very different purposes.
Let’s untangle them once and for all.
The Em Dash (—): The Writer’s Scalpel
The em dash is the longer of the two, roughly the width of a capital “M.” It is expressive, flexible, and incredibly useful in narrative and essay writing.
What the Em Dash Is Used For
1. To set off an interruption or aside
The em dash can replace commas or parentheses when you want emphasis or a more conversational rhythm.
She knew the truth—though she refused to admit it—long before the letter arrived.
2. To replace a colon for dramatic emphasis
An em dash can introduce a conclusion, explanation, or payoff.
There was only one thing left to do—run.
3. To indicate an abrupt break in thought or dialogue
This is especially common in fiction.
“If you think I’m going to—”
The door slammed shut.
4. To add emphasis without clutter
Em dashes allow writers to add information without slowing the sentence down.
The house—empty for decades—still smelled of smoke and roses.
Formatting Rules for Em Dashes
-
American English: No spaces on either side
word—word -
British English: Often spaced
word — word
Choose one style and be consistent.
The En Dash (–): The Quiet Professional
The en dash is shorter—about the width of a capital “N.” It’s less dramatic and more technical, often used in formal or informational writing.
What the En Dash Is Used For
1. To show ranges
This is its most common role.
1995–2002
Pages 14–37
Monday–Friday
Think of it as meaning “to.”
2. To connect related terms
Use an en dash when two elements are linked as equals.
Victorian–Gothic aesthetic
Author–editor collaboration
London–Paris train
This is not the same as a hyphen.
Formatting Rules for En Dashes
-
No spaces on either side
word–word
The Hyphen (-): Not a Substitute
One of the most common mistakes is using a hyphen instead of an en dash or em dash.
Hyphens are for compound words, not pauses or ranges.
✔ well-written novel
✔ nineteenth-century style
✘ 1995-2002 (should be 1995–2002)
✘ She hesitated – then spoke. (should be an em dash)
If you’re typing two hyphens (--) and hoping for the best, your writing software may forgive you—but editors will notice.
How to Type Them (Without Losing Your Mind)
On Mac:
-
Em dash:
Option + Shift + - -
En dash:
Option + -
On Windows:
-
Em dash:
Alt + 0151 -
En dash:
Alt + 0150
Most modern word processors will auto-convert if you type:
-
word--word→ em dash -
word - word(with spaces) → en dash (depending on settings)
Still, it’s worth knowing the real thing.
Why This Actually Matters
Dashes affect clarity, pacing, and credibility.
An em dash tells the reader how to hear your sentence.
An en dash communicates precision and professionalism.
Used correctly, they’re invisible. Used incorrectly, they distract.
And once you notice the difference, you’ll never unsee it.
A Simple Rule to Remember
-
Em dash (—): interruption, emphasis, voice
-
En dash (–): ranges and relationships
-
Hyphen (-): compound words only
Three marks. Three jobs. No confusion. Here is a quick reference guide:
Classic Em-Dash Devotees
Emily Dickinson
The undisputed queen of the em dash.
- Used em dashes instead of commas, periods, and sometimes logic
- Creates breathless pauses, ambiguity, and emotional suspension
- Her poems are practically architectural studies in dash usage
“Because I could not stop for Death—
He kindly stopped for me—”
Herman Melville
Melville used em dashes to layer thought upon thought.
- Long, philosophical sentences broken by dashes
- Mimics spoken reflection and obsession
- Especially prominent in Moby-Dick
“The truth was, that though his legs were stiff—his fingers were all alive.
Henry James
The em dash as psychological scaffolding.
- Marks hesitation, revision, and mental qualification
- Often paired with deeply nested clauses
- Makes the reader feel inside the character’s mind
Modern & 20th-Century Em-Dash Stylists
Virginia Woolf
Woolf used em dashes to represent consciousness in motion.
- Stream-of-consciousness technique
- Dashes signal shifts in perception and memory
- Often replaces traditional punctuation entirely
James Joyce
When Joyce used em dashes, they were intentional—and destabilizing.
- Breaks syntax to reflect mental fragmentation
- Frequently used in dialogue and interior monologue
- Dashes act as doors between thoughts
William Faulkner
Faulkner used em dashes to fracture time and memory.
- Signals sudden shifts in perspective
- Allows sentences to spiral without stopping
- Particularly effective in emotionally charged passages
Sharp, Modern Voices
Joan Didion
Cool, precise, devastating em dashes.
- Used sparingly—but surgically
- Creates tonal distance and irony
- Often replaces explanatory phrases
Kurt Vonnegut
Vonnegut used em dashes conversationally.
- Mimics spoken asides
- Enhances humor and timing
- Makes the narrator feel like a person talking to you
Cormac McCarthy
Famously rejected quotation marks—but embraced punctuation breaks.
- Uses dashes for rhythm and emphasis
- Often replaces commas and colons
- Creates stark, biblical cadence
Why Writers Love the Em Dash
Across all these authors, the em dash does one thing extraordinarily well:
It lets thought remain alive on the page.
It allows:
- Interruption without apology
- Emphasis without explanation
- Emotion without closure
Which is why editors warn against it—and why writers keep reaching for it anyway.