Inserting an Em Dash

This is partially true. But it depends on spacing. Word turns the hyphens into an em dash only if there are no spaces before or after them (fine for most writing, but a problem if you use AP style guidelines). If you do have spaces around the hypens, Word autocorrects to insert an en dash, not an em dash.

Thank you very much. I've been using word since the 90s and just found out about this shortcut. Much obliged, Allen.

thank you!

Hello this is my appendix I'd like to know thwe simple way I can add the page number for example: ,:; Page: 1 :; at the end of ten sentences or lines with subject using the replace Find What & Replace with


Order
Order Approving Billing Of The Chartwell Law Offices LLP Invoices #84915,
8375 & 8779,
entered.
(See Order)
/
l/
PSJ
(Copy Directed To Counsel),
filed.
hal Associated Entries:
03/31/2011

Re: inserting an Em Dash

"Word allows you to insert an em dash (a long dash) by simply typing two dashes in a row. Word senses this as you finished the word following the dashes, and then replaces them with the em dash. If you have this capability turned off ............."

However, please can you tell me how to turn this feature back on? I think I am using Word7 (version with the Word Ribbon across the top)

I was having an issue with this, too.

In Word 2016, on my laptop, I could not get an em or en dash to appear as I could on my desktop computer and Word 2010.

The built-in shortcut for this won't work on my laptop--no number pad. So I added a new shortcut for each Ctrl+Alt+M and Ctrl+Alt+N.

Now here's the odd thing. Once I'd done that, I was able to insert the em and en dash by either method--that is, the hyphen-hyphen followed by word and space now works.

Go figure!

I have Word 2016. I went into options - autocorrect and turned this feature on so that typing two dashes should make an em dash... but I still just get two dashes ... not an em dash?? any idea why?

Its no longer working? why is nothing happening?

"Word senses this as you finished the word following the dashes, and then replaces them with the em dash. If you have this capability turned off, however, you may be wondering how to get an em dash in your document. "

I am wondering how to furn this feature on. I can't find it in preferences.

You can also type 2014 on the standard keyboard, immediately following with ALT-x. Note: This is a hex number so if the preceding word ends with a, b, c, d, e, or f, insert a temporary space before the 2014.
2013+ALTx gives an n-dash.
2015+ALTx gives a "horizontal bar" which is identical to an m-dash except that it is "sticky" (= will not line-break) at both ends.