Or, you can even copy and paste one of the five en dashes from earlier in this post!Įn dashes should not be confused with hyphens, which are used in compound words (e.g., self-esteem) and sometimes with prefixes (meta-analysis).On a Mac, hold the Option key and type the minus sign (specifically, the one on the top of the keyboard).On a PC, hold the Control key and type the minus sign (specifically, the one on the numeric keypad to the right this shortcut will not work with the one at the top of the keyboard).Please feel free to share your tips for other programs in the comments section.)Įn dashes are easy to create in Microsoft Word: (Shortcuts for other software, like OpenOffice, will vary. Like many people, I use Microsoft Word as my word processor, even on my Mac. How to Create an En Dash in Microsoft Word

97) notes that you can use a single hyphen “if the en dash is not available on your keyboard.” If you prefer to use a true en dash, most keyboards don’t include a key for it, but a simple shortcut is available! other types of ranges (e.g., 16–30 kHz).ĭon't worry, the Publication Manual (p.Journal of Applied Psychology, 86, 718–729.”), and items of equal weight (e.g., test–retest, male–female, the Chicago–London flight),.The Publication Manual shows en dashes for The Publication Manual shows specific uses for hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes. In fact, dashes are different from hyphens, and they have a variety of forms. People sometimes use the terms hyphen and dash interchangeably, but there’s a subtle distinction.

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