![]() ![]() Doing it that way means you will have to copy/paste the correct dash and left (open) quote mark into the Find field, correct the instance, then copy/paste the dash and right (close) quote mark into the Replace field. Either manage them as you go along-I type in a quote mark first, then insert the dash where it belongs-or run a quick Find/Replace operation when you’re done to fix them all with one Replace All. If your version is putting left (open) quotes after dashes, your best defense is awareness. So if your version is inserting the correct punctuation, skip to the next quirk.) On the computer on which I’m writing this blog post, Word recognizes that a space or hard return after the quote mark means to use the right quote mark to close it. On the computer I use for fiction, the problem persists despite updates. (I say “depending on your version…” because Microsoft is always updating its products. Depending on your version of Word, it will insert a left (open) single or double quote mark. Replace All Word Quirks to Drive You Nutsīecause Word is an office productivity program rather than a straight word processor, it doesn’t always get that it is perfectly acceptable to end dialogue with an em dash closed by a right (close) single or double quote mark. In the Replace field: ^+ (or click the box called “Special” and select Em Dash from the list) ![]() In the Find field: – – (two single dashes) #Copy em dash for ms word fullClick “More” to open the full Find/Replace task menu. When you’re done writing, go to the Home Ribbon and click “Replace”. While you’re composing use a double dash to indicate an em dash (–). This is a good method for those who don’t like AutoFormat and AutoCorrect, and have trouble remembering hotkeys. Make certain you don’t override any hotkeys you currently use or that can get very confusing. In the “Press new shortcut key:” insert a new hotkey. The Commands field will have the em dash in it. Two dashes (–) is the most common shortcut. In the Replace field type in your shortcut. The em dash will be displayed in the “With” field. Check the box for “Replace text as you type” and check the “Formatted text” box. In the list of characters click the em dash once to highlight it. Doing this means whenever you want an em dash, type two dashes and Word will turn it into an em dash. Check the box for “Hyphens (–) with dash (-). Click “AutoCorrect Options…” and click “AutoFormat”. In the task menu, click Special Characters. Go to the Insert Ribbon, click Symbols>More Symbols. Press the following keys simultaneously: Ctrl+Alt+- (the minus sign on the number keypad) In MS Word, they are several ways to insert an em dash: Good intentions or grammatical knowledge aside, it’s easy to make typos. The number one problem is that the em dash is not on the keyboard. Go here for a good explanation of how they are used. I see everything from single dashes to multiple dashes to em and en dashes used indiscriminately-often with creative and/or inconsistent spacing. Judging from my own experience while processing innumerable Word docs, em dashes give writers fits. ![]()
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