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An en dash or en rule is a symbol primarily used to connect two words. Also, you can use it to show a range of dates and numbers and make complex compound adjectives more explicit. It is represented by a mid-sized dash (–), which is wider than a hyphen (-) and narrower than an em dash (—).
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The rules of when and where to use which kind of dash may seem complex and hard to understand, but they don't have to. Here's your guide to how to use em dashes, en dashes, and hyphens correctly.
May 31, 2019 · Make sure to use en dashes, not hyphens, for numerical ranges like this. Note that in the phrases “from … to …” and “between … and …,” it’s standard to retain the word “to” or “and” instead of using an en dash, to maintain parallel construction in the sentence.
There are distinct grammar rules for how to use an en dash as opposed to a hyphen or an em dash. Learn how to use the en dash in your writing.
Apr 18, 2019 · Use an en dash to show a range (2001–02) or to replace the word “to” (Boston–New York flight). Also use an en dash to show a connection across words (US–Canada border).
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May 23, 2019 · An en-dash is generally used in two situations. First, it may be used to indicate a range—of numbers, of distances, or of times—between two terms. Second, n-dash replaces a hyphen if one of the terms connected by the dash contains more than one word. Let’s look at these two cases in more detail.
Rule #1. Use an en dash in place of the word versus. For Example: We were watching the Tiger–Ranger game on television. The Smith–Johnson debate was heating up before the second question was even asked. Rule #2. Use an en dash to replace to or and. Do not use if sentence structure contains a “from … to …” or “between … and …” parallel structure.
