Em Dash
U+2014General Punctuation
Also known as long dashm-dashmdashem rule
Copy and paste —. The Em Dash character has Unicode code point U+2014 and decimal HTML code —.
Symbol codes
- Unicode
U+2014- Alt Code
Alt+0151- HTML Code
—- CSS Code
\2014- HTML Entity
—- HEX Code
—
Technical properties
Unicode 18.0.0
- Code point
- U+2014
- Decimal
- 8212
- Unicode name
- EM DASH
- Block
- General Punctuation · U+2000–U+206F
- General category
- Dash Punctuation (Pd)
- Script
- Common
- Introduced
- Unicode 1.1
- JavaScript
- "\u2014"
Appears in
About Em Dash
The em dash is a long punctuation mark used to set off a strong break, interruption, or parenthetical phrase in prose.
— is encoded in Unicode as code point U+2014 (decimal 8212). Its official Unicode name is EM DASH.
It belongs to the General Punctuation block (U+2000–U+206F), its General Category is Dash Punctuation (Pd), and it was added in Unicode 1.1, released in 1993. Its script value is Common: it is shared across writing systems rather than belonging to one.
Common uses
- Marking an abrupt break or change in a sentence
- Setting off a parenthetical phrase with more emphasis than commas
Examples
- Parenthetical phrase
- The train—already late—stopped again.
- Abrupt break
- I was going to explain—but the moment had passed.
Sources: Unicode Character Database 18.0.0, the HTML Standard’s list of named character references, and Unicode’s code page mappings.
How to use the em dash
The em dash is the most flexible punctuation mark in English. Writers use it in three main ways:
- To add an aside with emphasis. A pair of em dashes works like parentheses but draws attention to the words inside: The results—all 312 of them—arrived overnight.
- To introduce an explanation or a list. A single em dash can replace a colon in informal writing: She had one goal—finish the draft by Friday.
- To show an interruption. In dialogue, an em dash marks speech that breaks off: “I was just about to—” “Don’t.”
Use em dashes sparingly. Two in one sentence are fine when they enclose a single aside; more than that makes a paragraph hard to follow.
Em dash, en dash, and hyphen
| Mark | Name | Typical use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Em dash | Breaks and asides | wait—what? |
| – | En dash | Ranges and connections | 1990–1999 |
| - | Hyphen | Compound words | well-known |
On a keyboard without a dedicated key, many apps turn two hyphens (--) into a dash as you type. Check the result: some turn them into an en dash rather than an em dash.
How to type or insert Em Dash
- Any device
- Select Copy symbol, then paste with Ctrl+V, or ⌘+V on a Mac.
- Windows Alt code
- With Num Lock on, hold Alt, type 0151 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
- Microsoft Word
- Press Ctrl+Alt+− (numeric keypad), or type
2014, then press Alt+X. - Mac keyboard
- Option+Shift+- on the U.S. keyboard layout.
- macOS Character Viewer
- Press Control+⌘+Space and search for “em dash”.
- iPhone keyboard
- On the numbers and symbols keyboard, touch and hold -, then slide to —.
- Linux (GTK and IBus)
- Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type
2014, then press Space. - HTML
—or—. In a UTF-8 page you can also paste the character itself.- CSS
content: "\2014";in a::beforeor::afterrule.- JavaScript
"\u2014"
Common questions about Em Dash
What is the Em Dash symbol?
The em dash is a long punctuation mark used to set off a strong break, interruption, or parenthetical phrase in prose. In Unicode it is U+2014, officially named EM DASH. It is also known as long dash, m-dash, mdash, and em rule.
What is the difference between an em dash, an en dash, and a hyphen?
The em dash (—) is the longest and marks a break in a sentence, much like parentheses or a colon. The en dash (–) is shorter and joins ranges such as 10–18 or 2025–2026. The hyphen (-) is the shortest and joins words, as in well-known.
Should there be spaces around an em dash?
It depends on the style guide. The Chicago Manual of Style and most American book publishers close it up (word—word). AP style puts a space on each side (word — word), and many British publishers use a spaced en dash ( – ) instead.
How do I copy and paste the Em Dash symbol?
Select Copy symbol at the top of this page, then paste with Ctrl+V on Windows and Linux or ⌘+V on a Mac. On a phone, tap Copy symbol, then touch and hold where you want it and choose Paste. — pastes as ordinary text, so it works in documents, messages, and code.
How do I type the Em Dash symbol on Windows?
Turn on Num Lock, hold Alt, type 0151 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. In Microsoft Word, press Ctrl+Alt+− (numeric keypad). You can also type 2014 and press Alt+X. In any app, open Character Map from the Start menu, search for “em dash”, then select and copy the character.
How do I type the Em Dash symbol on a Mac?
Press Option+Shift+- (U.S. keyboard layout). Press Control+⌘+Space to open the Character Viewer, search for “em dash”, and double-click the result to insert it.
How do I type the Em Dash symbol on an iPhone or Android phone?
On an iPhone, open the numbers and symbols keyboard, touch and hold -, then slide to —. The simplest way is to copy it from this page and paste it where you need it. If you use it often, save it as a text shortcut: on iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement; with Gboard on Android, go to Gboard settings > Dictionary > Personal dictionary.
Can I use the Em Dash symbol in Word, Google Docs, and social media?
Yes. — is a standard Unicode character, so you can paste it into Microsoft Word, Google Docs, emails, and posts or bios on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok. In Google Docs you can also choose Insert > Special characters and search for “em dash”. In Word, choose Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, set from to Unicode (hex), and enter 2014 as the character code.
Is the Em Dash symbol an emoji?
No. — is a text symbol, not an emoji. It takes the color and size of the surrounding text, and its exact shape depends on the font.
Why does the Em Dash symbol show as a box or question mark?
An empty box or a question mark means the font on that device has no glyph for —. The character is still there: it appears correctly wherever a font covers Unicode’s General Punctuation block, and free font families such as Google Noto cover nearly all of Unicode.
What are the HTML and CSS codes for the Em Dash symbol?
In HTML, write — (decimal) or — (hexadecimal), or the named entity —. In CSS, use content: "\2014"; in a ::before or ::after rule, and in JavaScript "\u2014". See all HTML codes.