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Symbol
The en dash
is so named because the dash is approximately the length of a capital N. It’s longer than a hyphen and shorter than an em dash.Numbers
Use the en dash to join inclusive number ranges:
- pages 9–12
- 3–7 °C [but -3 to -7 °C, not -3–7 °C]
- Robertson Davies (1913–95)
Don’t use en dashes in number ranges preceded by the words from or between:
- from April 14 to 17 [not from April 14–en dash17]
- between 2020 and 2024 [not between 2020–en dash2024]
Use the en dash to give scores:
- The Canucks beat the Flames 3–2 in overtime.
Compound expressions
You can use the en dash to join the names of two or more places:
- the Québec–Windsor corridor
- the riding of Kenora–Rainy River
- the Vancouver–Calgary–Toronto flight
You can use the en dash to connect elements of equal importance:
- We’re going to the Lions–Alouettes game tonight.
- The company violated the buyer–seller agreement.
Use the en dash to attach a prefix or a suffix to a proper-noun compound:
- We saw a pre–World War II aircraft at the Aviation Museum.
- M. G. Vassanji is a Giller Prize–winning author.
Replacement for the em dash
You can use a spaced en dash in place of an unspaced em dash to enclose parenthetical material in sentences.
- Jen’s bike—em dasha brand new, custom-built Rocky Mountain—em dashwas stolen over the weekend.
or
- Jen’s bike – space en dash spacea brand new, custom-built Rocky Mountain – space en dash spacewas stolen over the weekend.
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© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
A tool created and made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada
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