How to Type an Em Dash | Shortcuts for Every Device

Typing an em dash (—) is quick once you know the shortcut: on a Mac press Shift + Option + Hyphen, on Windows 11 version 25H2 use Win + Shift + Hyphen, and on all Windows systems the universal fallback is Alt + 0151 on a numeric keypad.

That long punctuation mark that sets off a clause—or a sudden thought—makes prose read cleaner than a comma or parenthesis can. Yet most people reach for two hyphens instead because the keyboard seems to hide it. The em dash doesn’t need a special menu. Every modern OS and major writing app has a dedicated method. The right one depends on your device, and this article covers every option.

How to Type an Em Dash on a Mac

The single best shortcut for macOS users is Shift + Option + Hyphen. It works on standard English keyboards across all current versions, including macOS Tahoe 26.2. Pressing Option + Hyphen alone gives you the shorter en dash (–), perfect for ranges like 1990–2000. The extra Shift key extends it into the em dash (—).

On some French keyboard layouts the modifier may differ slightly, but the same key combination works for English users with no setup required.

If the shortcut slips your mind, open the Character Viewer by pressing Control + Command + Space. Type “em dash” into the search bar and double-click the result. It’s slower but impossible to forget.

Windows 11: The New Default Shortcut and the Fallbacks

Windows 11 version 25H2—released in October 2025—added a system-wide shortcut that finally matches macOS in simplicity: Win + Shift + Hyphen produces an em dash anywhere text accepts it. The same build also introduced Win + Hyphen for the en dash.

If you’re on an older Windows 11 build or Windows 10, the new shortcut won’t work. Use one of these instead:

• Ctrl + Alt + Hyphen — works on most Windows versions whether or not you have a numeric keypad.
• Win + . or Win + ; — opens the emoji picker. Click Symbols, then Special Characters, and select the em dash.
• Win + V — opens clipboard history. If you’ve ever copied an em dash before, it appears under Symbols.

What If You Have a Numeric Keypad?

This is the most reliable fallback on any Windows machine: hold Alt, type 0151 on the numeric keypad (the dedicated number block on the right), then release Alt. The em dash appears. The top-row numbers above the letters will not work—it must be the numeric keypad. On laptops without one, use the Ctrl + Alt + Hyphen method or the emoji picker instead.

Em Dash in Microsoft Word (Windows and Mac)

Word handles the em dash better than most apps. Type two hyphens with no space between them—like this –—then immediately press the next letter or space bar. Word auto-converts the pair to a single em dash. That’s the fastest route on both platforms.

If auto-convert doesn’t trigger, go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > Special Characters, then scroll to and select “Em Dash.”

Mac Word users should note a quirk: the standard Shift + Option + Hyphen shortcut sometimes maps to “Nonbreaking Hyphen” instead. To fix it, open Tools > Customize Keyboard, navigate to Common Symbols Em Dash, and assign a new shortcut—try Command + Option + Hyphen or Control + Option + Hyphen.

iPhone and iPad: Touch the Hyphen

On iOS, hold your finger on the hyphen key (-) on the on-screen keyboard. A small pop-up reveals three dashes: the short hyphen, the en dash (–), and the em dash (—). Slide to the longest one and release. It appears instantly.

Table: Em Dash Shortcuts by Device and OS

Common Mistakes That Trip Beginners Up

Mixing up the en dash and the em dash is the most frequent error. On Mac, pressing Option + Hyphen gives the shorter en dash, not the full em dash. The Shift key is what makes the difference. On Windows, using top-row numbers for the Alt + 0151 method produces nothing—only the numeric keypad works.

One more detail about style: in standard US English—per the Chicago Manual of Style—em dashes have no spaces on either side. “A sentence—like this—keeps flowing without gaps.” En dashes, by contrast, indicate ranges: 5–10 minutes or pages 42–58. Using the wrong dash is a small mistake every editor notices.

Table: Em Dash vs. En Dash vs. Hyphen

Keyboard Shortcut Checklist: Two Minutes to Master the Em Dash

Here is the fastest way to learn it on your primary device:

1. Mac: Press Shift + Option + Hyphen once to confirm it works. The em dash appears.
2. Windows 11 (25H2): Press Win + Shift + Hyphen anywhere you type. If you see the em dash, you’re set.
3. Older Windows or no keypad: Press Win + . (period) to open the emoji picker, click Symbols, then Special Characters, and select the em dash. Paste it once into a document, then copy/paste as needed.
4. Word on either OS: Type two hyphens and a space. The auto-convert handles it from there.

That’s it. The em dash is now yours to use as fluidly as the comma.