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wackadoo wabbit

(1,160 posts)
Tue Feb 4, 2020, 09:16 PM Feb 2020

How do you make an em-dash? How about an en-dash?

I've looked around, but I can't seem to find any instructions. The only way I've found to do it thus far is to copy it from somewhere else and then paste it here, which seems a bit unwieldy.

Thanks for any help!

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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How do you make an em-dash? How about an en-dash? (Original Post) wackadoo wabbit Feb 2020 OP
on a windows system? mike_c Feb 2020 #1
Sorry, I should have specified, "How do you make an em-dash on DU?" wackadoo wabbit Feb 2020 #3
This message was self-deleted by its author mike_c Feb 2020 #7
sorry I clicked post to soon mike_c Feb 2020 #8
Yes, I see that now. Thanks so much for the info! (n/t) wackadoo wabbit Feb 2020 #10
Do you mean in a Word document? The Blue Flower Feb 2020 #2
Sorry, I should have specified, "How do you make an em-dash on DU?" (n/t) wackadoo wabbit Feb 2020 #4
in a post here? ALT 0151 and ALT 0150 (M and N) CurtEastPoint Feb 2020 #5
OK, that's why I thought it wasn't working! wackadoo wabbit Feb 2020 #9
Sure. I've tried to put words w/accented e's and they either disappear or are just regular e's CurtEastPoint Feb 2020 #12
With an iphone or ipad happybird Feb 2020 #6
OP doesn't seem to want to specify a device or OS jberryhill Feb 2020 #11
It's not at all that I didn't want to specify a device wackadoo wabbit Feb 2020 #13
Why? hunter Feb 2020 #14
You can use HTML entities to display the various dashes. Make7 Feb 2020 #15

mike_c

(36,213 posts)
1. on a windows system?
Tue Feb 4, 2020, 09:19 PM
Feb 2020

alt-0150 for an en dash or alt-0151 for an em dash. The character should appear when you release the alt key: – or —.

wackadoo wabbit

(1,160 posts)
3. Sorry, I should have specified, "How do you make an em-dash on DU?"
Tue Feb 4, 2020, 09:27 PM
Feb 2020

When I try alt-0151, at first it appears to be a true em-dash, but when I preview my post it shows up as two hyphens.

Response to wackadoo wabbit (Reply #3)

mike_c

(36,213 posts)
8. sorry I clicked post to soon
Tue Feb 4, 2020, 09:35 PM
Feb 2020

I presume you're trying to use an em dash in the title line. It looks like DU strips out unicode and html in the title block. They work fine in the message text.

CurtEastPoint

(18,548 posts)
5. in a post here? ALT 0151 and ALT 0150 (M and N)
Tue Feb 4, 2020, 09:30 PM
Feb 2020
Subject lines act differently here w/special chars. They don't work.

m —
n –

wackadoo wabbit

(1,160 posts)
9. OK, that's why I thought it wasn't working!
Tue Feb 4, 2020, 09:36 PM
Feb 2020

In the subject line, it came up as two hyphens.

Thanks so much for the info!

CurtEastPoint

(18,548 posts)
12. Sure. I've tried to put words w/accented e's and they either disappear or are just regular e's
Tue Feb 4, 2020, 11:02 PM
Feb 2020

It's an annoyance I wish the powers that be would fix.

happybird

(4,515 posts)
6. With an iphone or ipad
Tue Feb 4, 2020, 09:30 PM
Feb 2020

Tap and hold the dash key and the other dash choices will appear. Slide your finger to the one you want and release.
IIRC, it works the same was on Android devices.

wackadoo wabbit

(1,160 posts)
13. It's not at all that I didn't want to specify a device
Tue Feb 4, 2020, 11:35 PM
Feb 2020

It's just that the problem was solved before I read happybird's post.

For the record, I'm using a PC running Firefox.

hunter

(38,263 posts)
14. Why?
Wed Feb 5, 2020, 01:09 AM
Feb 2020

If you are writing in English, stick to ASCII.

em-dash is two dashes and done.

It can be replaced later if you are going to publish a book or something.

I feel the same about quote marks and apostrophes.

There's software for that.

I write in markdown.

It makes no difference here on DU if I write italics this way or *this* way.

Make7

(8,543 posts)
15. You can use HTML entities to display the various dashes.
Fri Feb 14, 2020, 03:05 AM
Feb 2020

For example:

Em-dash = — displays —
En-dash = – displays –
Minus sign = − displays ?
Hyphen = - displays - (that should be what using your keyboard shows)

NOTE: when using HTML entities in your post titles, previewing the post will change them into the actual characters - be sure to hit the back button on your browser to restore the HTML entities before hitting the 'Post my reply' button.

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