TeXipedia

textemdash

Creates a long horizontal dash mark used for strong breaks in text or to denote ranges of values.

Overview

Serves as a versatile punctuation mark in professional typography, providing a more elegant alternative to standard hyphens or double-hyphens.

  • Commonly used to separate clauses in sentences with stronger emphasis than commas
  • Ideal for indicating ranges of numbers, dates, or values
  • Essential in academic writing and professional document preparation
  • Preferred over regular hyphens or double-hyphens for formal publications
  • Often employed in bibliographic citations and reference lists

Examples

Using an em dash to indicate a significant pause in mathematical text.

f(x) is continuous —indeed, differentiable —∀x∈Rf(x) \text{ is continuous \textemdash indeed, differentiable \textemdash} \forall x \in \mathbb{R} 
f(x) \text{ is continuous \textemdash indeed, differentiable \textemdash} \forall x \in \mathbb{R}

Em dash in mathematical definition with extended explanation.

Let x∈A —where A is a compact set—then f(x)<M\text{Let } x \in A \text{ \textemdash where } A \text{ is a compact set\textemdash} \text{then } f(x) < M 
\text{Let } x \in A \text{ \textemdash where } A \text{ is a compact set\textemdash} \text{then } f(x) < M

Using em dash to separate parts of a mathematical statement.

For all n>0 —assuming the series converges—∑k=1nak<∞\text{For all } n > 0 \text{ \textemdash assuming the series converges\textemdash} \sum_{k=1}^n a_k < \infty 
\text{For all } n > 0 \text{ \textemdash assuming the series converges\textemdash} \sum_{k=1}^n a_k < \infty