Em Dash Copy PasteDash comparison
copy real Unicode dash characters

Em Dash vs En Dash vs Hyphen

Compare em dash, en dash, hyphen, minus sign, and horizontal bar so you can copy the correct symbol for punctuation, ranges, compound words, or math.

Copy Dash Now

Copy the exact dash symbol you need. The primary character on this page is Em Dash (U+2014), HTML entity —.

Copy Em Dash

Em Dash · U+2014

Copy En Dash

En Dash · U+2013

Copy Hyphen

Hyphen-Minus · U+002D

-

Copy Minus Sign

Minus Sign · U+2212

Ready to copy Em Dash —

Which Dash Should You Use?

  1. 1. Use em dash — for interruption, emphasis, and inserted phrases.
  2. 2. Use en dash – for ranges and relationships.
  3. 3. Use hyphen - for compound words and keyboard input.
  4. 4. Use minus sign − for mathematics.
  5. 5. If you searched for semi dash, you may mean en dash or hyphen because semi dash is not a common standard punctuation name.

Dash Generator

Choose a dash symbol, set a count from 1 to 100, and copy the generated output.

Preview

Em Dash U+2014 x 1

Dash Tester

Paste a dash to check its Unicode code point and identify whether it is an em dash, en dash, hyphen, minus sign, or long dash.

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Dash Uses Explained

Em dash

Use — for sentence interruption, emphasis, or inserted explanation.

En dash

Use – for number ranges, date ranges, scores, and relationships such as London–Paris.

Hyphen

Use - for compound words, keyboard input, slugs, and plain-text separators.

Minus sign

Use − for subtraction and negative numbers in mathematical text.

Unicode and HTML Entity

Use this table to copy the exact dash character and confirm its Unicode code point, HTML entity, and CSS escape when available.

SymbolNameUnicodeHTMLCSSCopy
Em DashU+2014—\2014
En DashU+2013–\2013
-Hyphen-MinusU+002D-\002D
Minus SignU+2212−\2212
Horizontal BarU+2015―\2015

Dash Comparison Examples

Em dash

The update changed one thing—speed.

En dash

The report covers 2020–2026.

Hyphen

Use a user-friendly label.

Minus sign

The result is 10 − 4 = 6.

Related Symbols Compared

The marks are visually similar but not interchangeable. Copy the symbol that matches the writing or technical context.

SymbolNameCodeUseExample
Em DashU+2014Sentence breaks, emphasis, inserted thoughtsOne point matters—clarity.
En DashU+2013Ranges, scores, relationships2020–2026
-Hyphen-MinusU+002DCompound words, keyboard input, slugsuser-friendly
Minus SignU+2212Mathematics and negative numbers10 − 4 = 6
Horizontal BarU+2015Typography tests and U+2015-specific useA horizontal bar ― not a standard em dash

FAQ

What is an em dash?

An em dash is the punctuation mark —, Unicode U+2014. It is commonly used for emphasis, interruption, and parenthetical breaks in English writing.

Is an em dash the same as a hyphen?

No. A hyphen is the shorter keyboard mark -, while an em dash is the longer punctuation mark —.

Can I copy the em dash on mobile?

Yes. Tap a copy button on this page, then paste the symbol into your app. If clipboard access fails, select the visible symbol and copy it manually.

When should I use an en dash?

Use an en dash for ranges, scores, and relationships, such as 2019–2026.

What is a semi dash?

Semi dash is not a common standard punctuation name. Most users who search for it likely need an en dash or hyphen.

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