How to Type Em Dash (or Long Dash) in Word, Docs, and On Keyboard.

The Em Dash (—), also known as a long dash—is a powerful punctuation mark used in writing to create emphasis, show interruptions, or set off parenthetical thoughts. It’s longer than a hyphen (-) or en dash (–), and it’s often used as a stylish alternative to commas or parentheses. In this guide, we’ll focus on how to type em dash effectively.

But despite how common it is in formal and creative writing, typing an em dash on your keyboard isn’t always straightforward. It doesn’t have a dedicated key, and the method to insert it depends on whether you’re using Windows, Mac, or working inside Microsoft Word.

In this guide, you’ll learn all the ways to type or insert an em dash on your computer—whether you’re:

• Typing in Word
• Using a Windows or Mac keyboard
• Copying from a character map
• Or creating a custom shortcut with AutoCorrect

Let’s dive into the quickest methods first.

⚡ Quick Help: Em Dash Shortcuts

If you just want to type an em dash quickly, here are the most common keyboard shortcuts and input methods on both Windows and Mac:

Platform	Shortcut / Method	Description
Windows (Alt Code)	Alt + 0151	Press and hold Alt, then type 0151 on the numeric keypad
Windows (Word)	Ctrl + Alt + Num -	Only works in Microsoft Word; use the minus key on the numeric keypad
Mac	Option + Shift + -	Works system-wide on macOS
AutoFormat (Word)	Type -- then space	Automatically converts to an em dash if AutoFormat is enabled
Copy & Paste	—	Copy this symbol: — and paste it anywhere using Ctrl + V or ⌘ + V

📝 Note:

• On Windows laptops without a numeric keypad, you may need to enable the Num Lock function or use the Character Map instead.
• The “Num -” key refers to the minus sign on the numeric keypad—not the hyphen near Backspace.

✅ Method 1: Using the Em Dash Alt Code (Windows Only)

If you’re using a Windows PC, one of the fastest ways to type an Em Dash (—) is by using its Alt code.

The Alt code for the Em Dash is 0151. This method works only on keyboards with a numeric keypad.

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🧭 Step-by-Step: Type Em Dash with Alt Code

1. Click into your Word document (or any app where you want to insert the em dash).
2. Make sure Num Lock is ON on your numeric keypad.
3. Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard.
4. While holding Alt, type 0151 using the numeric keypad (not the number row at the top).
5. Release the Alt key → The em dash (—) will appear.

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💡 Example

To type the phrase:
He didn’t hesitate—he ran.

• You would type the sentence normally, and at the point where you want the em dash:
• Hold Alt and type 0151 → Result: —

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📝 Important Notes:

• This method only works on Windows.
• You must use the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard—not the numbers above the letters.
• If you’re on a laptop without a numeric keypad, try enabling a virtual NumPad:
  • Press Fn + NumLk to activate hidden numeric keys (usually overlaid on certain letter keys)
  • Or use the Character Map (explained in Method 3)

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✅ Method 2: Em Dash Shortcut for Mac and Word on Windows

If you’re not a fan of using Alt codes, you can insert the em dash using built-in keyboard shortcuts—available on both Mac and Windows (Word only).

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🍏 For Mac Users: Option + Shift + -

This is the easiest and most universal way to type an em dash on a Mac.

✅ Steps:

1. Place your cursor where you want the em dash.
2. Press and hold Option + Shift
3. Then press the hyphen key (-) (located next to the number 0)
4. An em dash (—) will appear

✅ This shortcut works across most macOS applications: Word, Pages, Notes, Google Docs, Safari, and more.

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💻 For Windows Word Users: Ctrl + Alt + Num -

This method works only in Microsoft Word and requires the minus key on the numeric keypad.

✅ Steps:

1. Click into your Word document where you want the em dash.
2. Press and hold Ctrl + Alt
3. Then press the minus key (-) on the numeric keypad
4. The em dash (—) will be inserted instantly

📝 Note: This shortcut does not work if you use the hyphen key near Backspace. It must be the minus key on the numeric keypad.

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🔁 Alternative: Use Alt Code Instead

If your keyboard lacks a numeric keypad or the Word shortcut doesn’t work:

• Use Alt + 0151 (covered in Method 1)
• Or try one of the copy-and-paste or insert-symbol methods

✅ Method 3: Copy and Paste the Em Dash

If you don’t want to memorize shortcuts or your keyboard setup doesn’t support special input methods, copying and pasting the em dash is the simplest option.

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🖱️ Option 1: Copy Directly from Here

You can copy this em dash and paste it into any app:

Use the copy button above to copy this symbol and paste it wherever you need it.

This method works across:

• Microsoft Word
• Google Docs
• Emails
• Chat apps
• Web forms

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🗂️ Option 2: Use Windows Character Map

If you want a source of all special characters, including the em dash, the Character Map tool in Windows is a great option.

✅ Steps:

1. Press Start and search for Character Map
2. Click to open the Character Map app
3. Check the “Advanced View” box
4. In the Search field, type: Em Dash
5. Click on the em dash symbol that appears
6. Click Select, then Copy
7. Go to your Word document or editor and press Ctrl + V to paste

✅ The Character Map gives you access to tons of other symbols too, like en dashes, bullet points, arrows, and special punctuation.

✅ Method 4: Insert Em Dash Using Word’s Symbol Dialog

If you prefer a point-and-click method, Word provides a built-in Symbol dialog box that contains a wide range of characters—including the Em Dash.

This method is especially helpful if:

• You forget the shortcut or Alt code
• You’re using Word on a laptop without a numeric keypad
• You prefer visual tools over keyboard commands

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🧭 Step-by-Step: Insert Em Dash via Symbol Dialog

1. Open your Microsoft Word document.
2. Place your cursor where you want to insert the em dash.
3. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon at the top of the screen.
4. In the Symbols group (far right), click the Symbol dropdown.
5. Select More Symbols… from the dropdown menu.
6. The Symbol dialog box will appear.
7. In the dialog:
   • Set the Font to Normal Text (optional, but recommended)
   • In the Subset dropdown (right side), choose General Punctuation
8. Scroll through the symbols until you find the Em Dash (—).
9. Click to select it, then click Insert.
   • Or double-click the symbol to insert it instantly.
10. Click Close to exit the dialog.

✅ The em dash will now appear exactly where your cursor was.

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💡 Tip:

Once you’ve used the em dash once, it will often appear in the recent symbols list, making it faster to insert again later.

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✅ Method 5: Use AutoCorrect to Type Em Dash in Word

If you frequently use em dashes in your writing, setting up an AutoCorrect shortcut in Microsoft Word can save you time.

With AutoCorrect, you can assign a short, memorable code (like -- or EMDASH) that Word automatically replaces with the em dash (—) as you type.

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🧭 Step-by-Step: Set Up an AutoCorrect Entry for Em Dash

1. Open Microsoft Word
2. Click on the Insert tab at the top.
3. In the Symbols group (far right), click Symbol → then choose More Symbols…
4. In the Symbol dialog box:
   • Make sure the Font is set to Normal Text
   • In the Subset dropdown (right side), select General Punctuation
5. Scroll and select the Em Dash (—) from the list.
6. Click the AutoCorrect… button near the bottom.
7. In the AutoCorrect dialog:
   • Check the box for “Replace text as you type”
   • In the Replace field, type your custom shortcut (e.g., EMDASH)
   • The With field should already contain the em dash (—). If not, paste it there.
8. Click Add, then OK, and again OK to exit the dialogs.

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✍️ Example in Use

Now whenever you type EMDASH (followed by a space or punctuation), Word will automatically convert it to an em dash (—).

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⚠️ Important Notes:

• Case sensitive: If you set it to EMDASH, typing emdash in lowercase won’t trigger the replacement.
• It only works if the shortcut is typed separately. For example:
  • ✅ Typing This is EMDASH. → Converts to This is —.
  • ❌ Typing ThisisEMDASH. → Will not convert (joined words block it)

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💡 Pro Tip:

You can use -- (two hyphens) as your replacement if you prefer a quicker typing pattern. Just keep in mind it may override Word’s default AutoFormat (covered next).

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✅ Method 6: How to Insert an Em Dash in Google Docs

Google Docs supports em dashes, and there are multiple ways to insert one—even though your keyboard doesn’t have a dedicated key for it.

Here’s how to do it:

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🧭 Option 1: Use the Keyboard Shortcut

Google Docs has a built-in shortcut that works on most systems.

✅ Shortcut:

• Windows: Ctrl + Alt + - (hyphen key)
• Mac: Option + Shift + -

✅ Steps:

1. Open your Google Docs file.
2. Place your cursor where you want the em dash.
3. On Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + –
   On Mac, press Option + Shift + –
4. The em dash (—) will appear.

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🖱️ Option 2: Use the Special Characters Menu

If the shortcut doesn’t work or you prefer to use menus:

✅ Steps:

1. Go to Insert > Special characters
2. In the search box, type: em dash
3. Click the em dash symbol (—) to insert it where your cursor is

✔️ This method works regardless of your keyboard or OS.

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📋 Option 3: Copy and Paste

If you don’t want to use the menu or shortcut, you can just copy it:

Copy this: —

Then paste it into your Google Docs document using:

• Ctrl + V (Windows)
• ⌘ + V (Mac)

🔁 Bonus: Use AutoFormat to Type an Em Dash (Word Only)

Microsoft Word has a smart feature called AutoFormat, which automatically replaces certain keystrokes with formatted characters. One of the most useful examples is converting two hyphens (--) into an em dash (—) when followed by a space or punctuation.

This is the easiest way to type an em dash without memorizing shortcuts or using the Symbol menu—if AutoFormat is enabled.

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🧭 How It Works (AutoFormat in Action)

1. Type two hyphens in a row: --
2. Follow it immediately with:
   • A space
   • Or a punctuation mark (like a period or comma)

➡️ Word will automatically convert the -- into an em dash (—)

✅ Example:

• Type: I know you--but I didn’t expect you here.
• After hitting space → Word will convert to:
  I know you—but I didn’t expect you here.

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🔧 How to Make Sure AutoFormat Is Enabled

If this trick doesn’t work for you, AutoFormat might be turned off. Here’s how to enable it:

Windows:

1. Go to the File tab → click Options
2. Select Proofing on the left sidebar
3. Click the AutoCorrect Options… button
4. Go to the AutoFormat As You Type tab
5. Make sure “Hyphens (–) with dash (—)” is checked
6. Click OK to save

Mac:

1. Go to Word > Preferences > AutoCorrect
2. Select the AutoFormat As You Type tab
3. Check “Replace hyphens with dash”
4. Close the dialog

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📝 Tip:

This method only works in Microsoft Word—not in other apps like Notepad, Google Docs, or web forms.

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✅ Final Thoughts

The em dash (—) may not have its own key on your keyboard, but once you know how to type it, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in your writing toolkit. Whether you’re looking to add emphasis, interrupt a thought, or replace parentheses for a cleaner look, the em dash does it all.

In this guide, you’ve learned:

• The fastest keyboard shortcuts for Windows and Mac
• How to insert the em dash using Word’s Symbol dialog
• How to set up AutoCorrect and take advantage of AutoFormat
• And how to use it in Google Docs and via copy-paste

📌 Remember: The best method is the one that fits into your workflow. If you write often, memorize the shortcuts. If you use it occasionally, bookmark this guide or use the copy button.

If you found this post helpful, feel free to explore more of our symbol and shortcut guides—and don’t hesitate to drop a question or share your favorite method in the comments below!