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By Donna Clayton

  • Click Tools in the Menu Bar.
  • Click Options
  • Click on Auto Format
  • Click Auto Format As You Type
  • Tick off box that changes double hyphens to an em dash.
  • Then click tab Auto Format tab
  • Tick off the appropriate box

You must make the change in both places.

Editor’s Note: 

On Windows (using numeric keypad) 

    1. Hold down the Alt key.
    2. Type 0151 on the numeric keypad.  
    3. Release the Alt key to insert the em dash.

On a Mac 

    1. Hold down the Option key.
    2. Press the hyphen key to insert an em dash.

See ASCII Characters for other handy tips for using symbols in your writing.

 

2026 JAN Calls for Submissions

NEW LISTINGS POSTED: 12-31-2025

2026 JAN Writing Contests

POSTED: 12-31-2025
The majority of the contest references have not updated their pages yet. I will do a recheck on January 15, 2026 and update again.

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