The difference between em dashes (—) and en dashes (–) lies in length, function, and usage:
Em Dash (—)
Length: Roughly the width of the letter “M”
Usage:
Acts like parentheses or commas to set off elements:
She was going to cancel — but then changed her mind.
Can replace a colon for emphasis:
Only one person knew the truth — her brother.
Sometimes used in place of quotation attribution in creative writing
En Dash (–)
Length: Roughly the width of the letter “N”
Usage:
Indicates ranges:
Read pages 10–20.
Shows connection or contrast (especially compound adjectives):
The Mumbai–Delhi flight was delayed.
Used in place of “to” in dates or time:
2010–2020, 9:00–5:00
Quick Summary:
Use em dash (—) for breaks, interruptions, or emphasis in a sentence.
Use en dash (–) for ranges and connections (like “to” or “between”).
