With this set-up, there are no problems creating em and en dashes in my usual way-using Alt codes.īut what if you prefer to use your laptop on-the-go, as it’s intended? Read on… 3.
This option will only be appealing to you if you tend to use your laptop like a desktop.įor editing documents, I like to plug my laptop into a massive monitor and attach a wireless mouse and full-size keyboard, complete with a number keypad.Īlternatively, you can plug in a portable USB number keypad and use your laptop keyboard and touchpad. Plug in a full-size external keyboard or keypad. My usual keyboard shortcuts don’t work on my portable laptop, though. Em dash (-): Shift-Alt-hyphen or Command + M.On a regular-size keyboard with a number keypad, I can use keyboard shortcuts to create em dashes and en dashes: (You know there are three kinds of dashes in written English, right? Use them correctly in your writing and you will impress a copyeditor!) 1. It’s a marvel of a machine except for one thing: because it doesn’t have a numeric keypad (less keyboard = better portability), I cannot create em dashes (-) and en dashes (–) in my usual way.
I have all-in-one laptop that weighs the same as a tablet.
