How to Make a Longer Dash
In the world of typography, the dash is a versatile punctuation mark that can be used to indicate a pause, an interruption, or an emphasis. However, sometimes the standard dash may not be long enough to convey the intended meaning. If you find yourself in a situation where you need a longer dash, here are some methods to help you achieve that.
1. Use the En Dash
One way to create a longer dash is by using the en dash, which is twice the length of the standard dash. The en dash is typically used to represent a range of numbers or to indicate a connection between two related items. To type an en dash on a Windows keyboard, hold down the Alt key and type 0151 on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, you can use Option + hyphen (-). This will give you a dash that is approximately 1.5 times the length of the standard dash.
2. Use the Em Dash
The em dash is even longer than the en dash and is used to indicate a pause or an interruption in the text. To type an em dash on a Windows keyboard, hold down the Alt key and type 0152 on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, you can use Option + shift + hyphen (-). The em dash is approximately twice the length of the standard dash and can be used to emphasize a point or to show that the text has been omitted.
3. Use a Unicode Character
If you need an extremely long dash, you can use a Unicode character. The Unicode character for a long dash is U+2012, which is called the horizontal ellipsis. To insert this character, you can use the Character Map tool on Windows or the Character Viewer on Mac. Simply search for the Unicode code point and copy the character into your text.
4. Customize Your Keyboard Shortcuts
If you frequently need to use longer dashes, you can customize your keyboard shortcuts to make the process quicker. On Windows, you can use the “Change Key Settings” feature to create a new shortcut for the longer dash. On Mac, you can use the “Keyboard” preferences to create a custom keyboard shortcut.
5. Use a Text Editor with Advanced Formatting Options
Some text editors and word processors offer advanced formatting options that allow you to create custom dashes. For example, you can use the “Insert Special Character” feature in Microsoft Word to select a longer dash from a list of options.
In conclusion, there are several methods to create a longer dash in typography. Whether you need an en dash, an em dash, a Unicode character, or a custom keyboard shortcut, these techniques will help you achieve the desired length and emphasis in your text.
