En Dash (–) | When to Use and Examples
An en dash (–) is used to indicate number ranges (e.g., 2022–2024), to show a connection or relationship (e.g., “the Boston–New York train”), and to connect certain compound adjectives (e.g., “a World War II–era building”).
The en dash is longer than a hyphen (-) but shorter than an em dash (—). It is so named because, historically, it was about the same length as a typeset N.
The Wildcats beat the Huskies 32–17 to win the championship.
The urban–rural political divide has grown in recent years.
When to use an en dash
En dashes are used for several purposes:
- To indicate a number range
- To report a score or voting result
- To indicate a relationship between two entities
- To connect complex compound adjectives
To indicate a number range
Ranges such as page numbers, dates, times, and measurements should be indicated with an en dash. This is its most common use.
Let’s meet Tuesday, Oct. 14, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
The acceptable temperature range for the equipment is 40–80°F.
Can you make a copy of Chapter 3 (pp. 56–72)?
If you introduce a number range with a preposition such as “from” or “between,” you should not use an en dash. Instead, use “to” or “and.”
- The president was in office from 1956–1960.
- The president was in office from 1956 to 1960.
- I would be happy to meet any time between 2–5 p.m.
- I would be happy to meet any time between 2 and 5 p.m.
To report a score or voting result
Sports scores or the results of votes (especially where there are only two parties) are often reported using an en dash.
This is the latest in a string of 5–4 decisions from the Supreme Court.
To indicate a relationship between two entities
An en dash is sometimes used to show the connection between two words in a couple of ways:
- A literal connection, in which the en dash typically replaces the word “to” (e.g., “the Dallas–Houston flight”)
- A more metaphorical connection, in which the en dash could most easily be replaced by the word “and” (e.g., “student–teacher relationship,” “Alabama–Auburn rivalry”)
The north–south bus runs every 10 minutes.
To connect complex compound adjectives
Typically, compound adjectives are connected with a hyphen when they precede a noun (e.g., “first-rate student,” “well-known author”).
However, there are some compound adjectives in which one of the adjectives is already a hyphenated word or is an open compound noun. In these cases, many authors choose to use an en dash instead of a hyphen to connect the two adjectives (e.g., “Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist”).
| Compound adjective (hyphen) | Complex compound adjective (en dash) |
|---|---|
| In the post-Depression era, many people still conserved food. | In the post–Vietnam War era, people became skeptical of military service. |
| I love Chicago-style pizza. | I prefer New York–style pizza. |
For example, “small business-centered program” could be interpreted to mean that the business-centered program is small. “Small business–centered program” is less ambiguous. The program is centered on small businesses.
These cases are relatively rare, though, so many people use a hyphen for all compound adjectives.
En dash vs em dash
Although em dashes (—) and en dashes (–) look very similar, they are used for quite different purposes.
- The en dash (–) is shorter and is used to indicate a range, such as a date range (e.g., 1945–1949), or a connection between two words.
- The em dash (—) is longer and is used to indicate a break in a sentence or to set off additional information (e.g., “My mom—whom I don’t think you’ve met—will be at graduation”).
| British English (en dash) | American English (em dash) |
|---|---|
| I can’t believe it – you’re engaged! | I can’t believe it—you’re engaged! |
| This campaign – which will conclude on Friday – has been our most successful yet. | This campaign—which will conclude on Friday—has been our most successful yet. |
En dash vs hyphen
In everyday writing (text messages, emails, signs, etc.), hyphens are very frequently used in place of en dashes because they are easier to type. Typically, this doesn’t cause any confusion. However, when writing in academic or professional contexts, it’s important to understand the different uses of the two.
- A hyphen (-) is shorter than an en dash and is used to connect words in compound adjectives (e.g., “well-read,” “dark-haired”) or compound nouns (e.g., “sister-in-law,” “higher-ups”).
- An en dash (–) is slightly longer and is used to separate number ranges, to indicate a connection or relationship, or to connect complex compound adjectives.
- APA Style requires en dashes in page ranges for both in-text citations and the reference page.
- MLA format allows either hyphens or en dashes in page ranges, though the publication or instructor you are writing for may have a preference.
- Chicago style requires en dashes for page ranges.
How to type an en dash
You can use the shortcuts in the following table to type an en dash.
| Mac | Windows | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| option + hyphen (to the right of the 0) | Alt + 0150 (on the 10-key numeric keypad) | Press and hold the hyphen (-) key. Select the shorter dash. |
| Windows + period to bring up the symbols menu |
Frequently asked questions about en dashes
- How do I type an en dash in Word?
-
There are several ways to type an en dash (–) in Microsoft Word:
- On a Mac computer, you can hold down option and press the hyphen key (to the right of the 0).
- On a Windows computer, you can hold down Alt and type 0150 on the numeric keypad.
- If you don’t have a numeric keypad, you can press the Windows button + period (.) to bring up the symbols menu.
- You can navigate to “Symbols” under the “Insert” menu to manually add an en dash.
- What’s the difference between an em dash and an en dash?
-
An en dash (–) is shorter and is used to indicate number ranges (e.g., “1958–1985”) or as a substitute for the word “to” in phrases like “the Albuquerque–Los Angeles flight.”
An em dash (—) is longer and is used like parentheses or commas to set off extra information or like a colon or semicolon to indicate a break in a sentence. For example: “My brother—well, technically my half-brother—is coming to visit this weekend.”
In British English, en dashes are used like em dashes. In this case, they have a space on either side. For example: “My brother – well, technically my half-brother – is coming to visit this weekend.”
A QuillBot Grammar Check can help you ensure you use dashes correctly.
- What’s the difference between an en dash and a hyphen?
-
A hyphen (-) is shorter than an en dash and is used to connect words in compound adjectives (e.g., “fast-paced,” “old-fashioned”) or compound nouns (e.g., “seven-year-olds,” “jack-of-all-trades”).
An en dash (–) is slightly longer and can be used for several purposes:
- To indicate number ranges (e.g., “2020–2024”)
- To indicate a relationship or connection (e.g., “the London–Dublin train,” “the employer–employee relationship”)
- To connect complex compound adjectives (e.g., “the Booker Prize–winning novelist”)
In many everyday writing situations, the hyphen is used in place of the en dash because it is easier to type. However, it is important to know the difference for academic and professional writing contexts.
QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you ensure you’re using different types of punctuation correctly.
- What is an n dash?
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The term “n dash” is a misspelling of en dash, which is the dash that is used in number ranges (e.g., “pp. 207–221”), among other uses.
The en dash is longer than a hyphen (-) but shorter than an em dash (—).
QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you use punctuation correctly.
