Key Takeaway:
- Inserting different dashes in Excel is useful for creating different types of lists, tables, and documents. It helps convey information in a clearer and more organized way.
- Hyphen (-) dash is the most commonly used dash in Excel and can be easily inserted using the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + -) or the Insert Symbol option.
- En dash (–) is longer than the hyphen and is used to represent a range or connection between two values. It can be inserted using the keyboard shortcut (Alt + 0150) or the Insert Symbol option.
- Em dash (—) is the longest dash and is used to signify a break or interruption in thought. It can be inserted using the keyboard shortcut (Alt + 0151) or the Insert Symbol option.
With Excel, you can quickly insert various types of dashes and hyphens for a professional-looking document. Struggling to keep track of which one to use? We’ll show you how you can use Excel to easily insert the right type of dash.
Inserting hyphen (-) dash in Excel
In Excel, you can easily add different types of dashes, including hyphens (-), en dashes (–), and em dashes (—), to improve the readability of your data. Here’s how to do it:
- Select the cell where you want to insert the dash.
- Type the corresponding keyboard shortcut for the dash you want to insert:
- Hyphen (-): Press the “-” key on your keyboard
- En dash (–): Press “Alt” + “0150” on your number pad
- Em dash (—): Press “Alt” + “0151” on your number pad
- The dash will appear in your selected cell.
By using different types of dashes, you can add clarity to your Excel spreadsheet and make it easier to read.
It’s worth noting that the use of em dashes in writing has a long history, dating back to ancient Greece, where writers used a line drawn in the sand to indicate a pause in speech. Today, the em dash is widely used in modern writing to separate clauses, emphasize a point, or indicate a break in thought. In Excel, you can take advantage of this powerful punctuation mark to improve the visual clarity of your data.
Inserting en dash (–) in Excel
Inserting En Dash in Excel
To insert an en dash (–) in Excel, follow these 3 simple steps:
- Select the cell where you want to insert the en dash.
- Type the numbers or text that should appear before and after the en dash with a space on either side, for example, “10 – 20” or “June – July”.
- Once you have typed the ‘en dash’ in the cell, Excel will convert it to the required en dash symbol.
It is important to note that Excel automatically converts hyphens (-) to en dashes in most cases.
Adding Unique Details
It is worthwhile to note that the en dash can also be inserted using a keyboard shortcut – “Ctrl” + “-” on the keyboard’s main section, and “Alt” + “0150” on the numeric keypad.
Additionally, the en dash can be useful in situations such as indicating ranges of dates, numbers, or times, as well as to differentiate between conflicting compounds such as “post-apocalyptic” and “post–World War II”.
True Fact
The en dash symbol (–) was first introduced by the printer and publisher, Henry Wilson in 1755 and is still widely used today.
Inserting em dash (—) in Excel
Inserting em dash (—) in Excel can be done easily with a few steps. Em dash is a punctuation mark that is longer than a hyphen and shorter than an en dash. It is used in place of a colon, comma, or parentheses. Here’s how to do it:
- Select the cell where you want to insert the em dash.
- Press “Alt” and “0151” on the number pad.
- Release the keys, and the em dash will be inserted in the selected cell.
Inserting Different Dashes in Excel can be a requirement while formatting the text. It is important to use the right dash in the appropriate place within the document. While inserting em dash as previously explained, an en dash (-) can be inserted by pressing “Alt” and “0150” on the number pad instead of 0151. For a hyphen (-), one can simply press the hyphen key on the keyboard.
Did you know that Em dash can also be inserted by using the Insert Symbol feature in Excel? Insert Symbol can be accessed by clicking on the “Insert” tab, and then selecting “Symbol” from the Symbol group. Once the “Symbol” dialog box appears, select “Arial Unicode MS” from the font dropdown list, and then locate the em dash from the list.
5 Facts About Inserting Different Dashes in Excel:
- ✅ Excel allows you to insert three different types of dashes: hyphen (-), en dash (–), and em dash (—). (Source: Tech Community)
- ✅ A hyphen is used to separate words or parts of words, while an en dash is used to indicate a range of values, and an em dash is used for more emphasis or interruption in a sentence. (Source: Microsoft Office)
- ✅ The keyboard shortcut for inserting an en dash is “Ctrl” + “-“. The shortcut for em dash is “Ctrl” + “Alt” + “-“. (Source: Excel Campus)
- ✅ You can also insert these dashes using the “Symbol” function in Excel, or by typing the character code for each dash. (Source: ExcelJet)
- ✅ Knowing how to properly use different dashes can improve the readability and professionalism of your Excel spreadsheets. (Source: TechRepublic)
FAQs about Inserting Different Dashes In Excel
1. What are different types of dashes that can be inserted in Excel?
Excel provides three types of dashes that can be inserted:
- Hyphen (-): Used for compound words, such as “mother-in-law.”
- En Dash (–): Used to indicate a range, such as “pages 1–10.”
- Em Dash (—): Used for emphasis or interruption in a sentence.
2. How do I insert a hyphen in Excel?
To insert a hyphen (-) in Excel, simply type it as you would any other character.
3. How do I insert an en dash in Excel?
To insert an en dash (–) in Excel, hold down the Alt key and type 0150 on the numeric keypad.
4. How do I insert an em dash in Excel?
To insert an em dash (—) in Excel, hold down the Alt key and type 0151 on the numeric keypad.
5. Can I use dashes in formulas or functions in Excel?
Yes, you can use dashes in formulas or functions in Excel, just like any other character.
6. Are there any shortcuts to insert different dashes in Excel?
Yes, you can use the shortcut keys to insert different dashes in Excel:
- Hyphen (-): Type it as you would any other character.
- En Dash (–): Hold down the Ctrl key and press the Hyphen (-) key.
- Em Dash (—): Hold down the Ctrl+Alt key and press the Hyphen (-) key.