Normalize Dashes

Convert text to use proper typographic dashes (Em — / En –) or standardize all dashes to simple hyphens.

Input Text
Output
Type two hyphens--like this--to make an em-dash. Or type spaced hyphens - like this - for an en-dash range: 1990-2000.
Changes0
Original Size118
New Size118

Continue with Related Tools

Fix Quotes

Convert curly quotes to straight ones.

Text Cleaner

Deep clean all formatting issues.

Fix Spacing

Remove double spaces and tabs.

Master Your Typography

The Normalize Dashes tool bridges the gap between casual typing and professional typography. Most keyboards only have a hyphen (-). However, professional writing requires the longer **En-Dash** (–) for ranges and the even longer **Em-Dash** (—) for sentence breaks. This tool intelligently converts your typed double-hyphens (--) into these correct typographic marks instantly. It pairs perfectly with the Remove Smart Quotes tool for full document polish.

Standardize

Convert all weird dash types back to a simple hyphen. Perfect for cleaning code or data.

Smart Format

Auto-detect contextual usage to apply the correct En-Dash or Em-Dash just like a pro publisher.

Web Ready

Directly output HTML entities (—) to ensure your dashes render correctly on any website.

Visual Guide

Input (Typed)

Wait--stop!
See pages 10-20.
It is a win-win.

Fixed (Smart Dashes)

Wait—stop! (Em)
See pages 10–20. (En)
It is a win-win. (Hyphen)

How to Use

  1. Paste Text: Copy your draft or code snippet.
  2. Choose Preset:
    • Standardize: Flattens everything to basic hyphens.
    • Smart Dashes: Upgrades -- to Em-Dash and ranges to En-Dash.
  3. Select Format: Choose 'HTML Entities' if exporting for web.
  4. Copy: Get your professionally formatted text.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Hyphen, En-Dash, and Em-Dash?

A hyphen (-) joins words (e.g., 'fast-paced'). An En-Dash (–) indicates a range (e.g., '1990–2000'). An Em-Dash (—) indicates a break in thought—like this.

What does 'Standardize' do?

The 'Standardize' preset converts ALL dash types (em, en, minus sign) into the standard keyboard hyphen (-). This is useful for coding or plain text data.

How does 'Smart Dashes' work?

'Smart Dashes' automatically converts double hyphens (--) into Em-Dashes (—) and spaced hyphens in ranges (1-10) into En-Dashes (1–10).

Can I output HTML code?

Yes! Select 'HTML Entities' as the format to get the safe code — or – for your web projects.

Does this tool support the Minus Sign?

Yes, it detects and normalizes the mathematical minus sign (\u2212) as well.

Why do I see 'â–' characters?

This usually happens due to encoding errors (Mojibake) when copying text. Our tool can often fix this by replacing those broken sequences with standard dashes.

Is my text safe?

Yes. All processing happens 100% in your browser. Nothing is sent to our servers.

Can I use this for book formatting?

Absolutely. The 'Smart Dashes' mode is specifically designed to prepare manuscripts for professional typesetting.

Does it work with copy-paste from Word?

Yes, it handles the auto-formatted dashes from Microsoft Word perfectly.

Is this tool free?

Yes, 100% free for everyone.