Hyphen
U+002D · HYPHEN-MINUS
The shortest and most familiar dash-like punctuation mark. Hyphens connect parts of words, join compound modifiers, and mark where a word breaks at the end of a line.
Common uses
- Compound modifiers before a noun (well-known author)
- Prefixes & suffixes (ex-president, self-aware)
- Phone & part numbers (555-0100)
- Word-break hyphenation in typesetting
En Dash
U+2013 · EN DASH
Slightly longer than a hyphen, the en dash is named for the width of the letter "N." It expresses ranges and connections between two equal, related things.
Common uses
- Number & date ranges (pages 12–18, 2010–2024)
- Routes & connections (New York–London flight)
- Scores & results (a 3–1 victory)
- Compound adjectives with multi-word parts
Em Dash
U+2014 · EM DASH
The longest of the three, named for the width of the letter "M." The em dash creates emphasis and drama—replacing commas, colons, or parentheses for stronger effect.
Common uses
- Parenthetical emphasis (She won—finally—the title)
- Dramatic pause or reveal (One rule—be honest)
- Interrupted dialogue ("Wait, I—" she paused)
- Setting off a summary or list