How to use dashes correctly: Punctuation tip #5

Dashes can cause a lot of confusion for writers. After all, they're rarely taught at school, and most people think they all do the same thing. But the truth is, they don't. For a start, there are short dashes (en dashes) and long dashes (em dashes). Then you’ve got hyphens, which aren't quite dashes. But more on that later!

In this post, I’ll discuss the two types of dashes and how to use them correctly. I’ll also explain regional or style differences, and when you might want to replace a dash with a different type of punctuation.

Types of dashes

You’ve probably seen two types of dashes in written texts: the en dash (–) and the em dash (—). They're so named because one is the length of the letter ‘n’ and the other the length of ‘m’. (When I first trained as an editor, they were also known as the en rule and the em rule.)

Dashes are often used to show relationships between words or numbers. But depending on your location, there are broad rules (or rather, best practices) for their use, which help enhance clarity and readability.

Note: If you're a frequent user of dashes and don’t want to use the symbols menu on the Insert tab, shortcuts for a PC are Alt 0150 for the en dash and Alt 0151 for the em dash.

When to use an en dash

In Australia and the UK, the en dash is the most common dash and it can be used in the following instances:

• For general number ranges

  There were 50–60 people at the house inspection.

• For page number ranges

  See pages 5–7.

  Zadie Smith, Swingtime (Penguin Press, 2016), 315–16

  
  

• For date ranges

  Gough Whitlam (1916–2014) was the twenty-first prime minister of Australia.

  15 May – 17 June 2025

  Note: Where a date has multiple components, spaced en dashes are used, as above.

• For financial years

  He owed taxes for the 2024–25 tax year.

• To show an equal relationship between two nouns

  The editor–author relationship.

  The US–Australia tax treaty.

• For multiple-word nouns in a compound adjective

  It was a pre–World War Two policy.

  It was a Lord of the Rings–themed party.

  Note: These constructions are usually considered awkward. If possible, rewrite these to avoid the dash. For example, ‘The policy predated World War Two.’

  
  

• To set off information

  John – who arrived late – missed out on the performance.

  Birds, bees, frogs – they’re all part of our ecosystem.

  Try the Harbour Bridge Climb – unless you’re afraid of heights.

  
  

  Note: When information is set off, the en dash is spaced on either side.

When to use an em dash

In Australia and the UK, em dashes aren’t as common as en dashes, but they’re often used in the following instances:

• To show interrupted dialogue

  ‘Don’t raise your voice in my—’

  ‘All this land’—she stretched her arms out—’is yours.’

  Note: With interruptions, don't be tempted to use an ellipsis. This mark is usually reserved for missing information or speech that trails off. In the second example, spaced en dashes are also acceptable.

• To set off information

  John—who arrived late—missed out on the performance.

  Birds, bees, crickets—they’re all part of nature’s kingdom.

  Try the Harbour Bridge Climb—unless you’re afraid of heights.

  
  

  Note: In these instances, the em dash is unspaced – unlike the en dash, which is spaced when it sets off information. While this is US-style usage, some authors/publishers in Australia and the UK may prefer this style.

• When an author has more than one book listed in a bibliography

  —— Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Profile Books, London, 2003.

  Note: Two consecutive em dashes are often used in reference lists when the author’s name is repeated, but this is optional or dependent on your style guide. (You probably noticed that a space appears between the em dashes above. This is a result of the platform I'm using. In Word, no space appears between the dashes.)

  
  

Is a hyphen a dash?

There is some debate about whether a hyphen is a dash. Most style guides agree that it’s not a dash but a short stroke (or bar) that joins words or parts of words.

Hyphens are often used in numbers over twenty (e.g. twenty-five, ninety-nine), compound adjectives (e.g. a dog-loving family, a two-storey building), prefixes (e.g. ex-girlfriend, pre-loved) and even compound nouns or verbs (e.g. well-being, bottle-feed). They can also be used to indicate a stutter (e.g. He d-d-didn't hear me) or spelled out words (e.g. My name is spelled S-Y-N-T-H-I-A).

As you can see, hyphens perform a different function in a sentence, and they are not interchangeable with en dashes or em dashes. As an editor, I often see hyphens used to show number ranges or set out information (because the hyphen appears on a keyboard and dashes don’t). But this usage is incorrect. See the lists above for further guidance.

Can you replace a dash with a comma?

Sometimes, authors overuse en dashes. (Guilty as charged!) This can create a staccato rhythm, distract readers or emphasise words or phrases unnecessarily. In this case, commas can come to the rescue and vary the punctuation and rhythm of a sentence.

Before: John – who arrived late – missed out on the performance.

After: John, who arrived late, missed out on the performance.

Before: It was an ongoing problem – and I’d had enough.

After: It was an ongoing problem, and I’d had enough.

You could also use a colon if the sentence sets out a list of items.

Before: I packed everything – clothes, toys, books.

After: I packed everything: clothes, toys, books.

Are dashes a telltale sign of AI?

If you’ve been on social media lately, you’ll know that everyone and their parakeet is talking about AI giveaways. And guess who’s become Enemy Number 1? The dash, of course.

So is it used by large language models? Yes. A lot. Generative AI uses language patterns and falls into repetitive loops, which means that you see vocabulary, structures and punctuation marks again and again – more than you would in human writing. As a result, the dash (namely the US-style em dash) is used constantly, particularly when it comes to setting off information.

In my opinion, dashes (or contrast framing, or the rule of threes, or words like ‘delve’) aren’t always a sign of AI. If they’re used sparingly and judiciously, they have their place. That said, if you’re using AI to assist your writing process, look out for these patterns and minimise them. Or better yet, ditch the bots and write the words yourself!

Final thoughts: How to use dashes correctly

Dashes may look tricky at first, but once you know where and when to use them, they’ll make your writing cleaner, sharper and more consistent.

And remember, using the en dash or em dash can be a matter of style, particularly when you're setting out information. Australia and the UK prefer the former; the US prefers the latter.

That said, I’ve seen many local novels use the em dash too. It all depends on the author’s preference or the publisher’s style guide. However, consider whether a dash is needed or if another punctuation mark will do. A little goes a long way.

Not sure how to handle dashes? Let me take care of them for you. Get in touch through my contact form or request a sample edit.