What's the best way to get an em dash?

[tanyachrs]

I usually paste into the text box, but I do write in Word. If I use real em dashes in Word and pick the upload option, will they come across better? Pasting into the box, whether I use an em dash or two hyphens together, it looks OK in preview and then publishes as a single hyphen which is distractingly wrong. I just submitted a new story and I used space hyphen hyphen space just to be sure I get some separation, but I'd love to get a real em dash or even hyphen hyphen without the spaces.

 

[RejectReality]

One way you can absolutely control it is to use the html special character:

—

I've been doing this ever since the Lit text processor stopped handling the em dashes generated by Wordperfect correctly several years ago. Mine show up as two dashes if left alone, even though they appear correctly in preview.

Type directly into the text or find/replace when you're done. I save a .txt copy of the version with the em dashes and italic tags.

 

[sr71plt]

I cut and paste from Word into the text box and the em dashes in the original all hold.

 

[Eroticalover1968]

While using MS Word, I do the double hyphen, then type the next letter, then hit space. It auto corrects the double hyphen into an em.

 

[sr71plt]

While using MS Word, I do the double hyphen, then type the next letter, then hit space. It auto corrects the double hyphen into an em.

You don't type the next word before hitting the space? If not, you're adding an unnecessary step or two. If you type just the next letter, you have to backspace over the space after the em dash sets and then type the word. The em dash will set if you just type the next word and then put in a space where it naturally belongs.

I can put an em dash in with a macro too (control + the hyphen on the side keypad) without typing two hyphens.

 

[PennLady]

Using Word on my Mac, I can get an emdash with Option-Shift-hyphen. And it holds when I cut and paste into Lit's submission box.

For a PC, there's a similar combination but it's been a while so I'm not sure. Something like Ctrl-Shift-hyphen.

 

[_Lynn_]

I changed the shortcut key for the Em dash to something that was easier to remember(for me, anyway). Instead of using the three-key option the program had, I have it set to two. It was an easy switch.

 

[tanyachrs]

I have no trouble getting the em dash in Word. It just hasn't translated well on Lit the last couple of stories, despite looking fine in preview. I'm going to try the HTML character next time. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Handley_Page]

I'm having trouble Finding the em-dash, let alone inserting it.

 

[mynameisben]

I'm having trouble Finding the em-dash, let alone inserting it.

If you have trouble memorizing keystrokes or HTML code, like me, then you can easily find an em dash by googling for "em dash." Then click on the Wikipedia page for "dash." Once you find an em dash on the Wikipedia page (it's easy to find), then copy and paste it into your document.

 

[Never]

Just set the em's shoes on fire.

 

[sr71plt]

If you have trouble memorizing keystrokes or HTML code, like me, then you can easily find an em dash by googling for "em dash." Then click on the Wikipedia page for "dash." Once you find an em dash on the Wikipedia page (it's easy to find), then copy and paste it into your document.

Or you could just pull it down from the Insert/Symbol menu.