Em Dash (—)
HTML entity for the em dash (—). Learn how to use — or — in HTML for parenthetical statements, attribution, and typography.
Punctuation
—
Em Dash
All Formats
| Format | Value |
|---|---|
| Character | — |
| HTML Entity | — |
| HTML Code (Decimal) | — |
| Unicode | U+2014 |
| CSS Content | \2014 |
| Category | Punctuation |
About Em Dash
The em dash (—) is a long dash approximately the width of the letter "M." It is one of the most versatile punctuation marks in English typography, used for parenthetical statements, interruptions, attribution, and separating clauses.
In HTML, insert the em dash using —, —, or —. The named entity — is widely supported and clearly communicates the intended character. The em dash should not be confused with the en dash (–) or the hyphen (-), each of which has distinct typographical purposes.
The em dash is part of the General Punctuation Unicode block. In American English, it is typically used without spaces on either side (word—word), while in British English, it is often set with thin spaces or regular spaces. Many style guides prefer the em dash for parenthetical asides instead of parentheses or commas.
In CSS, use "\2014" with the content property for pseudo-element insertion. The em dash is essential for professional web typography and renders consistently across all browsers and platforms. Screen readers typically pause briefly for the em dash, similar to how they handle other punctuation.
Usage Examples
<!-- Using named entity -->
<p>This is the Em Dash: —</p>
<!-- Using numeric code -->
<p>This is the Em Dash: —</p>
<!-- Using the character directly (UTF-8) -->
<p>This is the Em Dash: —</p>
<!-- In CSS -->
.icon::before {
content: "\2014";
}FAQ
What is the HTML entity for Em Dash?
The Em Dash (—) can be inserted using the named entity —, the numeric code —, or by pasting the character directly in a UTF-8 document.
How do I use — in CSS?
In CSS, use the content property with the value "\2014". For example: content: "\2014";
What is the Unicode code point for Em Dash?
The Unicode code point for Em Dash is U+2014. This is the universal identifier for this character across all platforms and programming languages.
Try It in the HTML Entity Tool
Use our HTML Entity Encoder & Decoder to encode and decode HTML entities, convert between named, numeric, and hex formats, and explore the full entity reference table.