What are En Dash?
The en dash gets its name from its width, which traditionally equalled the letter 'n' in typesetting. It is wider than a hyphen (-) and narrower than an em dash (—). In practice, the en dash has two main jobs: marking numerical and date ranges (2010–2024, pages 5–18), and showing a connection or relationship between two equal or multi-word elements (the London–Paris flight, the Spain–Portugal border).
Many writers substitute a hyphen for an en dash because the hyphen is easier to type and looks similar on screen at small sizes. In formal published writing, academic papers, and professional documents, the correct mark matters — especially in ranges. Style guides including Chicago, APA, and Oxford all specify the en dash for ranges.
British English traditionally uses a spaced en dash as the 'long dash' in prose (He arrived – or so we were told – three hours late), where American English uses an em dash without spaces. This is an important distinction when working across the two styles.
Three Uses of the En Dash
The en dash signals 'from A to B' or 'between A and B'. A hyphen signals 'A and B together as one thing'. When in doubt: if you could say 'from … to' or 'between … and', use an en dash.
Range: number/date – number/date / Connection: equal element – equal elementUse 1 — Ranges
| Range type | En dash form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Page range | page X–Y | See pages 34–67 for the full analysis. |
| Year range | XXXX–XXXX | The research was conducted from 2018–2023. |
| Time range | HH:MM–HH:MM | The session runs 09:30–11:00. |
| Score or vote | X–Y | The motion passed 7–3. / The match ended 2–1. |
| Numerical range | X–X | Participants were aged 25–40. |
Use 2 — Connections Between Equal Elements
| Connection type | En dash form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Travel routes | Origin–Destination | She booked the London–Edinburgh train. |
| Borders and territories | Place–Place | The France–Germany border was reopened. |
| Relationships and contrasts | Term–Term | The cost–benefit analysis was inconclusive. |
| Multi-word compound modifier | Multi-word element–other element | a post–Cold War settlement, a New York–based startup |
Use 3 — British Long Dash in Prose
| Function | British style (en dash) | American style (em dash) |
|---|---|---|
| Parenthetical aside | He arrived – after a long delay – visibly tired. | He arrived—after a long delay—visibly tired. |
| Interruption or break in thought | She said she would – but she never did. | She said she would—but she never did. |
| Spacing convention | space – dash – space | no spaces —like this |
When to Use the En Dash
Numerical and date ranges
The en dash replaces the word 'to' in a range. Use it between two numbers, years, times, or page references. Do not add the word 'from' or 'between' before the range when using an en dash — the dash already implies the relationship.
- Page reference: The methodology is described on pages 24–31.
- Year range: The data covers the period 2015–2022.
- Age range: Participants were aged 18–35.
- Avoid: from 2015–2022 → use either 'from 2015 to 2022' or '2015–2022'
Compounds with multi-word elements
When one or both elements of a compound modifier is itself a multi-word phrase, use an en dash instead of a hyphen. A hyphen connects single words; an en dash is needed when one side of the compound contains a space.
- Multi-word compound: a post–Cold War settlement
- Multi-word compound: a New York–based consultancy
- Multi-word compound: a Nobel Prize–winning researcher
- Simple hyphen (single words): a well-known author (both elements are single words)
En Dash Warning Signals
Hyphen vs En Dash
A hyphen joins single words into a compound. An en dash marks a range or connection between equal elements, or a compound where one element is multi-word.
Hyphen — single-word compound modifier
She is a well-known researcher in the field.
'well' and 'known' are both single words — hyphen.
En dash — multi-word compound modifier
He is a Nobel Prize–winning economist.
'Nobel Prize' is two words — the connecting mark upgrades to an en dash.
Hyphen — incorrect for a range
See pages 34-67.
Hyphen is technically incorrect in a page range — it should be an en dash.
En dash — correct for a range
See pages 34–67.
En dash means 'from 34 to 67'.
Common Mistakes
Using a hyphen instead of an en dash in ranges
✗ The project ran 2019-2023. / See pages 45-60.
The project ran 2019–2023. / See pages 45–60.
Ranges of numbers, dates, and pages use an en dash, not a hyphen. The hyphen is a word-joiner; the en dash means 'from … to'.
Writing 'from X–Y' (combining the word 'from' with an en dash)
✗ The study covers data from 2010–2022.
The study covers data from 2010 to 2022. / The study covers data from 2010–2022 (no 'from').
'From' implies 'to', and the en dash also implies 'to'. Using both is redundant. Either use the word pair 'from…to' or use just the en dash.
Using a hyphen in a multi-word compound modifier
✗ a New York-based company, post-Cold War tensions
a New York–based company, post–Cold War tensions
When one element of a compound is multi-word ('New York', 'Cold War'), the connecting mark is an en dash, not a hyphen.
Confusing British and American long-dash conventions
✗ She arrived—or so we were told—completely unprepared. (American em dash used in British English text)
She arrived – or so we were told – completely unprepared. (British spaced en dash)
British English uses a spaced en dash as its long dash in prose. American English uses an unspaced em dash. Mixing conventions within one document looks inconsistent.
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