Hyphen, en dash, or em dash?

A simple guide for fiction writers

If punctuation had a family of easily confused siblings, the hyphen, en dash, and em dash would be it.

They may look similar, but each one has a distinct job to do—and using the wrong one can subtly affect clarity, tone, and even reader trust. The good news? Once you know what each dash is for, they’re surprisingly easy to handle.

Let’s break them down.

The hyphen (-): the joiner

The hyphen is the shortest of the three and is used to join words together.

You’ll often see it in:

• Compound adjectives: a fast-paced thriller, a well-known suspect

• Certain prefixes: self-editing, re-enter

• Some nouns: mother-in-law, check-in

A quick test: if two words are working together to describe one thing, a hyphen may be needed.

Fiction example:She gave him a cold-hearted smile.

If in doubt, look up the word in the dictionary you are using as a guide e.g. Merriam-Webster. You can also check it using CMOS and their hyphenation guide.

The en dash (–): the connector

Slightly longer than a hyphen, the en dash is most commonly used to show ranges or connections.

Think of it as meaning to or between.

Use it for:

• Number ranges: pages 45–62, 1998–2004

• Time spans: Monday–Friday

• Relationships or contrasts: the editor–author relationship

Fiction example:The London–Paris train was delayed again.

The em dash (—): the interrupter

The em dash is the longest—and often the most expressive. It’s used to interrupt, emphasise, or add an aside within a sentence.

Many fiction writers love the em dash because it mirrors natural speech and thought. Although, the em dash has been controversial lately with unfounded rumours of the use being an indication of AI.

You can use it to:

• Insert an interruption

• Replace commas or parentheses for emphasis

• Create dramatic pauses

Fiction example:He was certain she knew—she always did—but she said nothing.

A quick style note: consistency matters. Some publishers prefer em dashes without spaces; others prefer spaces on either side. What matters most is choosing one style and sticking to it. I provide my authors with a Style Preferences Guide to fill out, so I can edit to their wishes.

Does this really matter?

Misused dashes rarely stop a reader in their tracks, but they do add friction. Enough small distractions can pull a reader out of the story, especially in genres like crime, mystery, and romance, where pace and emotional flow matter.

This is exactly the kind of detail editors look for. Not to “correct” your voice, but to help it come through clearly and professionally.

A final thought

If punctuation rules feel overwhelming, you’re not failing as a writer. You’re simply focusing on storytelling, which is where your energy truly belongs.

My job is to support that process, not police it.

If you’d like a second pair of eyes on your work, I offer a free, no-obligation sample edit so you can see how I work and whether I’m the right editor for you.