Use double or triple minus hyphen (-) to stand in for em dash?
Asked by: Trevor Grindberg
A double dash would be most correct. In fact some word processors will automatically change a double dash into an em dash.
Should a minus sign be a hyphen or en dash?
In practice, most computer users type the hyphen-minus in place of the minus sign, compare −5 (minus sign) and -5 (hyphen-minus). If the minus sign is not available, I recommend to use the en-dash instead, compare “6 – 5” (en-dash) and “6 – 5” (hyphen-minus, too short).
How do I type an em dash?
Alt codes are basically keyboard shortcuts that don’t require you to press many keys at once, but instead require that you hold down the Alt key and then type a specific, multi-digit code on your numpad. To make an em dash, press and hold Alt, then type 0151.
How do I make a 3 em dash in Word?
Creating a 3-em Dash
You can find the em dash in the symbol drop-down menu in Microsoft Word. Alternatively, press CTRL + ALT + minus key on the numeric keypad, three times. If you’re using the proper font (Times New Roman 12), the three dashes will make a solid line. Add a period after the 3-em dash.
How does a minus sign or hyphen (-) function?
Most programming languages use the hyphen-minus for denoting subtraction and negation. It is almost never used to indicate a range, due to ambiguity with subtraction. Generally other characters, such as the Unicode U+2212 − MINUS SIGN are not recognized.
Which dash do you use for negative?
en dash
Use an en dash: To indicate a range of numbers, such as inclusive values, dates, or pages. For a minus sign. To indicate negative numbers.
What is a hyphen vs dash?
A hyphen joins two or more words together while a dash separates words into parenthetical statements. The two are sometimes confused because they look so similar, but their usage is different. Hyphens are not separated by spaces, while a dash has a space on either side.
What is em dash example?
Use em dashes in place of commas or parentheses to create a break in a sentence. Examples: Please call my lawyer—Richard Smith—on Tuesday. This sentence could also be written with commas or parentheses.
How do I insert an em dash in Word?
Hold down the [Alt] key and type 0151 on the numeric keypad. Choose Symbol from the Insert menu, click the Special Characters tab, highlight the em dash, and click Insert.
What is an em dash symbol?
An em dash is a punctuation mark that can be used to replace commas, parentheses, colons, and semicolons. In general, the em dash is seen as being more interruptive or striking than other punctuation, so it is often used stylistically to draw a reader’s attention to a particular bit of information.
Why is it called an em dash?
In fact, the em dash is named after its length—it’s about the same width as the capital letter M. Its alphabetical cousin, the en dash, is about the same width as the letter N. Figuratively speaking, the hyphen pulled the short end of the stick.
How do you change a hyphen to minus?
Three answers:
- On a Windows computer with a keyboard that has a proper numerical keypad, hold down ALT and type 45. …
- In Word, go to Insert – Symbols – More Symbols – enter Character Code 2212 – press Shortcut Key button – type a shortcut such as CTRL-hyphen – Assign – Close. …
- Type 2212 then (with no space) hit ALT-X.
Which dash is about half the length of an em dash?
En dashes
En dashes. Despite its name, the en dash has more in common with the hyphen than with the em dash. In fact, it helps to think of the en dash, which is half the length of the em, as a variant of the hyphen.
What is a double hyphen used for?
Double dashes are used instead of commas (or parentheses) to interrupt a sentence. The phrase separated by dashes must be grammatically inessential, by which I simply mean that the sentence will still work without that phrase.
How do you use an em dash in the middle of a sentence?
The em dash can be used in place of a colon when you want to emphasize the conclusion of your sentence. The dash is less formal than the colon. After months of deliberation, the jurors reached a unanimous verdict—guilty. The white sand, the warm water, the sparkling sun—this is what brought them to Fiji.
How do you use em?
Use em units for sizing that should scale depending on the font size of an element other than the root. Use rem units for sizing that doesn’t need em units, and that should scale depending on browser font size settings. Use rem units unless you’re sure you need em units, including on font sizes.
What is EM full form?
EM is an abbreviation for electromagnetic. For example, “The sound wave had an EM frequency of ten thousand hertz.”
What type of word is em?
Em is a noun – Word Type.
How many types of dashes are there?
three forms
There are three forms of dashes: em, en, and the double hyphen. The most common types of dashes are the en dash (–) and the em dash (—). A good way to remember the difference between these two dashes is to visualize the en dash as the length of the letter N and the em dash as the length of the letter M.
What does 3 dashes mean?
In mathematics, the triple bar is sometimes used as a symbol of identity or an equivalence relation (although not the only one; other common choices include ~ and ≈). Particularly, in geometry, it may be used either to show that two figures are congruent or that they are identical.