Dashes are longer than hyphens and are used differently. There are two kinds: en dashes (–), which are the width of the letter
n, and em dashes (—), which are the width of the letter
m.
Use the en dash without spaces to express a connection or to indicate a date, time or number range.
![Exemple adequat Exemple adequat](grafics/exemple-correcte-26.png) | Girona–Barcelona bus |
| ![Exemple adequat Exemple adequat](grafics/exemple-correcte-26.png) | staff–student relationship |
|
![Exemple adequat Exemple adequat](grafics/exemple-correcte-26.png) | 2019–2022 |
| ![Exemple adequat Exemple adequat](grafics/exemple-correcte-26.png) | 3.15–7.30 p.m. |
| ![Exemple adequat Exemple adequat](grafics/exemple-correcte-26.png) | 40–50 students |
|
Remember that ranges can be expressed by an en dash or by the words
from and
to (or
between and
and) but never by a combination of
from (or
between) and an en dash. Therefore, not
![Exemple no admissible Exemple no admissible](grafics/exemple-incorrecte.png) | The Arabic discussion group will meet from 3 p.m.–6.30 p.m. on Thursdays. |
but
![Exemple adequat Exemple adequat](grafics/exemple-correcte.png) | The Arabic discussion group will meet from 3 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. on Thursdays. |
Use the em dash (—) with spaces to make a parenthetical reference.
![Exemple adequat Exemple adequat](grafics/exemple-correcte.png) | This morning’s lecture — rescheduled from last week — was given by Professor Mulligan. |