An em dash (—) on a Mac can be produced with keyboard shortcuts, on‑screen character pickers, system text replacement, and accessibility features. The most common methods include pressing Option+Shift+hyphen, using the Emoji & Symbols viewer, enabling automatic dash substitution in System Settings, or creating a custom text replacement shortcut. These approaches work across macOS apps and in most third‑party editors, word processors, and browsers where standard Unicode input is supported.
Quick Answer: Default Em Dash Shortcuts
Standard shortcut (US English layout)
Hold Option and press the hyphen/minus key (usually to the right of 0 on the top row) to type — in most macOS apps. This input relies on built‑in keyboard handling and does not require special settings.
Alternate layouts and keys
On non‑US or non‑QWERTY keyboard layouts, the key next to the right Shift may be labeled differently, but Option combined with the character key for the hyphen/minus typically produces the em dash. If the shortcut does not work in a particular app, try the on‑screen input methods below.
- Option+hyphen (—)
- Shift+Option+9 (in some regional input sources)
- Option+Shift+hyphen (varies by layout)
Use macOS On‑Screen Character Viewer
Open the Character Viewer
Choose Edit > Emoji & Symbols from any app’s menu bar, or press Control+Command+Space. This opens the Character Viewer, which lets you browse and insert punctuation, symbols, emoji, and accented letters.
Find and insert an em dash
In the viewer, type "em dash" or "dash" in the search field, or browse to Punctuation. Click the em dash (—) to insert it into your document at the cursor location. This method works consistently across applications that support Unicode input.
Enable Automatic Dash Substitution
Turn on smart quotes and dashes
In System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacement (or System Preferences > Keyboard on older macOS), Smart Quotes and Dash may be enabled by default. When on, typing two hyphens (--) between words can automatically convert to an em dash (—) as you continue the sentence.
Verify settings and app behavior
Not all apps process automatic substitution identically. Some editors and code-focused tools disable smart punctuation by design to preserve exact formatting. If automatic conversion is unreliable in a specific app, use a manual shortcut or the Character Viewer instead.
Create a Custom Text Replacement Shortcut
Build a tailored shortcut
In System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacement (macOS Ventura and later), add a new replacement:
- Phrase: —
- Shortcut: — or any mnemonic sequence like emd
After saving, typing your shortcut followed by a space or punctuation will expand to an em dash globally or within specific apps that support text replacement.
Short list: Compare methods by speed and scope
| Method | Speed | Scope (app support) |
|---|---|---|
| Option+hyphen shortcut | Fast (keyboard only) | Most Unicode‑aware apps |
| Character Viewer picker | Moderate (menu navigation) | All apps that support character palette |
| System auto‑substitution (type --) | Fast (if enabled and working) | Variable; depends on app support |
| Custom text replacement | Fast after setup | Custom, limited to apps that support replacement |
Considerations for Apps, Editors, and Accessibility
Code, markup, and plaintext contexts
In code files, configuration, scripts, or markup like HTML and Markdown, inserting typographic punctuation such as an em dash may break parsing or rendering. In these cases, preserve the raw ASCII hyphen or use Unicode escape sequences (for example, \u2014 in JavaScript or CSS) rather than the literal em dash character.
Accessibility and readability
Screen readers typically announce an em dash as "em dash" or interpret it as a punctuation pause, which can improve readability when used appropriately. Avoid overuse, and prefer em dashes where they genuinely replace commas, colons, or parentheses to set apart clauses.
FAQs
Why does Option+hyphen not produce an em dash in some apps?
Some applications override default key handling or use input methods that do not pass the standard Unicode character. In those cases, try the Character Viewer, automatic substitution, or a custom text replacement shortcut.
Will enabling smart quotes or automatic dashes affect copied text?
No. Smart quotes and automatic dash substitution only apply as you type new text. Existing text is not altered when you turn these features on or off.
Do em dashes typed on a Mac transfer correctly to other platforms?
Yes. The em dash is a standard Unicode character (U+2014) and should display consistently across modern systems, browsers, and devices when the font supports it.
How should I style an em dash in headings or UI labels?
Reserve em dashes for prose and natural language pauses. In navigation, buttons, or headings, use concise phrasing and prefer commas or reworded structures to maintain clarity and space.