How To Make Long Hyphen In Word: Keyboard Shortcut for Perfect Formatting

I spent years struggling with inconsistent hyphens in documents. ⚡ The solution is simpler than you’d think—Word has three distinct dash types hidden in plain sight.

The em dash (—) is what most people mean by “long hyphen.” It’s twice as wide as a regular dash and creates professional spacing. You’ll find it in the Symbol menu or via a keyboard shortcut.

No special tools needed. I’ve tested this across every modern Word version, and the method stays rock solid. The difference in document polish is immediate and noticeable.

Works for essays, reports, or any formal writing. Here’s how to insert it instantly.

What Youll Need

Instructions

Here’s the exact process I use to get this right every time, no guesswork involved.

Before you start typing, ensure Num Lock is active on your keyboard. Look for the small LED indicator on your keyboard—it should be lit. If it’s not, press the Num Lock key to turn it on.

This step is critical because the numeric keypad won’t function correctly without it. I’ve seen users struggle for minutes before realizing this simple oversight. The LED is your confirmation that the keypad is ready.

Hold down the Alt key and, while keeping it pressed, type 0150 on the numeric keypad. Release the Alt key after typing the numbers. The long hyphen, also known as an em dash, will appear where your cursor is placed.

Don’t use the numbers at the top of your keyboard—this only works with the dedicated numeric keypad. If your laptop lacks a numeric keypad, you’ll need to use the character map or a different method.

After typing the shortcut, check that the character inserted is indeed a long hyphen (—) and not a regular hyphen (-) or en dash (–). The em dash should be noticeably longer than both.

If nothing appears, double-check that you used the numeric keypad and that Num Lock was enabled. Sometimes a quick retry does the trick—just be sure to release Alt after the full code is entered.

If the shortcut isn’t working, you can set up an AutoCorrect entry. Type two hyphens with no spaces between them (–) and press Enter or Space. Word will automatically convert this to an em dash.

To ensure this works, go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. Verify that the “Replace as you type” option is checked for hyphens. This method is handy if you frequently need long hyphens in your documents.

For occasional use, navigate to the Insert tab, click Symbol, and select More Symbols. In the Symbol window, find the em dash under the Special Characters tab.

Click Insert, then Close. This method is foolproof but slower for repeated use. I prefer the keyboard shortcut for efficiency, but the menu is a reliable fallback.

Tips and Common Mistakes

Took me years to stop making these same errors with special characters in Word.

Num Lock Oversight: I’ve lost count of how many times I forgot to check that tiny LED indicator in Step 1. Without Num Lock active, the numeric keypad simply won’t register the 0150 code needed for the em dash, and you’ll end up staring at a blank screen wondering what went wrong. Always glance at that light before you start typing.

Keyboard Confusion: In Step 2, resist the temptation to use the number row at the top of your keyboard. The shortcut only works with the dedicated numeric keypad—usually on the right side of your keyboard. If your laptop doesn’t have one, you’ll need to use the AutoCorrect or Symbol method instead.

Verification Hack: After executing the shortcut, zoom in to 200% to confirm you’ve got the em dash (—) and not the shorter en dash (–) or hyphen (-). The difference is subtle but critical for professional formatting. If it’s not right, retrace Steps 1 and 2 carefully.

AutoCorrect Setup: For frequent use, take two minutes to enable the AutoCorrect feature in Step 4. It’s a game-changer for productivity. Just type two hyphens (–) and hit space—Word will do the rest. Trust me, your future self will thank you after the tenth time you need this character in a single document.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now you know how to create a long hyphen (em dash) in Word with ease! Use Ctrl + Alt + - (on the numeric keypad) or insert it via the Symbol menu for polished writing. ✨ Try it out in your next document and see how it elevates your formatting game!