Unicode encodes several horizontal dashes, each with different use cases. Here is an incomplete overview.
Typographically correct punctuation may be mistaken for a sign that the text was generated by AI.
Hyphen-Minus #
U+002D HYPHEN-MINUS
The normal hyphen, which can be found on the base layer of the keyboard. Typewriters and ASCII did not have enough space for multiple dashes, so semantically different characters had to share an encoding. Unicode later added different code points, but these could not replace the hyphen-minus.
Usage:
- Hyphen in text
- Minus in program code, spreadsheets, …
Questionable use:
- In place of parentheses or colons as a substitute for the em dash
- Minus sign in text or user interfaces as a substitute for the minus sign.
En dash #
U+2013 EN DASH
Usage:
- Instead of a hyphen when one of the items has a space: Chicago-style pizza uses a hyphen, but New York–style pizza uses an en dash
- Range of values (Mo–Fr, 8 am–6 pm)
Em dash #
U+2014 EM DASH
The em dash that we all know and love, and that increasingly raises suspicion since the proliferation of AI-generated content.
Usage:
- Instead of parentheses
- Instead of a colon
Figure dash #
U+2012 FIGURE DASH
Has the same width as a digit. It is therefore well suited for tables, where the digits in different rows line up exactly underneath one another.
Usage:
- Instead of a digit
Minus sign #
U+2212 MINUS SIGN
This typographically correct minus sign looks identical to the horizontal bar of the plus sign. For comparison, the plus sign sits between the hyphen and the minus sign: - + −
Usage:
- Minus sign in text or in user interfaces
Hyphen #
U+2010 HYPHEN
Looks identical to the hyphen-minus but cannot be used as a minus sign. Thus, the ambiguity of the hyphen-minus is resolved.
Usage:
- Hyphen in text when it might otherwise be confused with a minus sign
- Playing pranks on your coworkers
Non-breaking hyphen #
U+2011 NON-BREAKING HYPHEN
Looks identical to a hyphen, but prevents line breaks at its position.
Usage:
- When a line break should not occur at a hyphen
Soft hyphen #
U+00AD SOFT HYPHEN
Oops, there is nothing there? The soft hyphen indicates the position where a line break may occur within a word. If the line is broken there, a hyphen will be inserted. Otherwise, the soft hyphen remains invisible.
Showcase (only the width of the box is modified):
Usage:
- When automatic hyphenation is unavailable
- Within a long word at a position suitable for a line break
Hyphen bullet #
U+2043 HYPHEN BULLET
Looks identical to the hyphen (or hyphen-minus), but it has a different meaning and is therefore encoded separately in Unicode.
Usage:
⁃ Bullet point
Horizontal bar #
U+2015 HORIZONTAL BAR
Two-Em dash #
U+2E3A TWO-EM DASH
Twice as long as an em dash.
Usage:
- To indicate omissions (e.g., for expletives)
Three-em dash #
U+2E3B THREE-EM DASH
Three times as long as an em dash.