Copy — to insert an em dash quickly. In Windows applications that support Windows-1252 Alt input, hold Alt and enter 0151 on the numeric keypad. In Word on Windows, type 2014, select those digits, and press Alt + X.
On Windows
If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, place the cursor in your text, hold Alt, type 0151 on that keypad, and release Alt. Keep the leading zero. Enable Num Lock if your keypad requires it. This method depends on the application and Windows character input settings.
Without a numeric keypad, copy the character or use Character Map. The number row above the letters is not the same as the numeric keypad.
In Word on Windows
Type 2014 where you want the em dash. Select just those hexadecimal digits, then press Alt + X. Word converts the code to —. If it converts nearby letters too, undo and select only the code before trying again.
On a Mac
Place the insertion point in your document and choose Edit → Emoji & Symbols. Search for em dash, then select the result to insert it. In the expanded Character Viewer, you may need to double-click the character. Keyboard shortcuts can vary with your Mac keyboard settings and layout.
In Google Docs
On a computer, open Insert → Symbols → Special characters. Find the character by its Unicode value 2014 or browse the available categories. Select it to insert it. You can also paste the copied character directly into your document.
On iPhone, iPad, or Android
Tap the copy button above. In your destination app, place the cursor in the text field and use Paste. If the browser blocks automatic copying, the button provides a manual-copy field. The exact selection and Paste controls depend on your device and app.
Choose the right character
An em dash — is U+2014. The shorter en dash – is U+2013, while the ordinary hyphen-minus – is U+002D. They are separate characters. Use the dash and spacing required by your writing style or publication.
Example: The answer—after several attempts—was clear.
If the symbol does not work
An empty box usually means the selected font lacks the glyph. Try a font that supports the character. If the Alt method inserts something unexpected, use the Word Unicode method or copy and paste instead. A destination app may also change punctuation or display some marks as emoji.
Browse related characters in our symbol collection, or search the shortcut finder.