How to Create an Em Dash in Canva - Canva Templates (2024)

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Creating an em dash in Canva can be a bit tricky for those who are not familiar with the platform. However, with a few simple steps, anyone can add this punctuation mark to their text in Canva. One way to create an em dash is by using keyboard shortcuts. On a regular-size keyboard with a number keypad, one can use keyboard shortcuts to create an em dash and en dash.

Another way to create an em dash in Canva is by using alternate glyphs. To add the glyphs to your text, you have to go to the product page of the font you’ve purchased and see its PDF Glyphs guide. Scroll down further until you see the “View Font Glyphs” option. Click it, and a new tab will appear. There you will see all the font variations and alternate glyphs available. By following these steps, anyone can easily create an em dash in Canva and add it to their text.

Understanding Em Dash

An em dash is a versatile punctuation mark that can replace commas, parentheses, semicolons, and colons in sentences. It is longer than an en dash (-), which in turn is longer than a hyphen (-). The em dash (—) derives its name from being the same width as the capital letter M.

Em dashes can be used to set off a phrase or clause that adds emphasis or provides additional information. They can also be used to indicate a sudden break or interruption in thought, or to create a dramatic effect. For example, “She had finally found her dream job—only to realize it wasn’t what she wanted after all.”

In addition, em dashes can be used to indicate missing letters or words in a word or phrase. For example, “The company’s Q4 earnings were up 25% compared to last year’s Q4—quite an achievement.”

Em dashes can be created using built-in keyboard shortcuts or by using the Insert Symbol function in Canva. On a regular-size keyboard with a number keypad, users can use keyboard shortcuts to create em dashes and en dashes. In Microsoft Word, users can use the Alt+Ctrl+ – (minus) shortcut to create an em dash and the Ctrl + – (minus) shortcut to create an en dash. Mac users can use the Option + Shift + Dash (-) shortcut to create an em dash and the Option + Dash (-) shortcut to create an en dash.

In Canva, users can create an em dash by clicking on the Text tool, selecting the text box, and then clicking on the Insert Symbol button. From there, users can select the em dash symbol and insert it into their text.

Getting Started with Canva

Canva is a user-friendly graphic design tool that allows users to create professional-looking designs for a variety of purposes. From social media graphics to business cards, Canva offers a wide range of templates, design elements, and customization options to help users create the perfect design for their needs.

To get started with Canva, users can simply create an account and log in to the platform. Once logged in, they can browse through the various design templates and choose one that fits their needs. Alternatively, users can start from scratch and create a design from the ground up.

Canva’s intuitive design editor makes it easy to experiment with different design elements and customize each design to fit the user’s specific needs. Users can add text, images, shapes, and other design elements to their designs with just a few clicks.

One of the great things about Canva is that it offers a wide range of design elements that users can use to create their designs. From fonts and color schemes to icons and illustrations, Canva has everything users need to create a professional-looking design.

Overall, getting started with Canva is easy and straightforward. With its intuitive design editor and wide range of design elements, users can create professional-looking designs in no time.

How to Access Special Characters in Canva

Canva offers a variety of fonts to choose from, but sometimes you need to add special characters to your design. Here’s how to access special characters in Canva.

Navigating the Text Toolbar

To access special characters in Canva, start by navigating to the text toolbar. This toolbar is located on the left-hand side of the screen and contains all the text-related tools and options.

Once you have selected the text tool, you can click on the “Font” dropdown menu to select the font you want to use. After you have selected your font, you can begin typing your text.

Using the Special Characters Option

To access special characters in Canva, click on the “Special Characters” option located below the font dropdown menu. This will bring up a list of all the special characters available in the font you have selected.

From here, you can scroll through the list of special characters and select the one you want to use. Alternatively, you can use the search bar to find a specific special character.

Once you have found the special character you want to use, simply click on it to add it to your text. You can repeat this process to add multiple special characters to your design.

In conclusion, accessing special characters in Canva is a simple process that can add a unique touch to your designs. With the text toolbar and special characters option, you can easily customize your text to fit your needs.

Creating an Em Dash in Canva

Canva is a popular graphic design tool that allows users to create stunning visuals for various purposes. Em dashes are used to indicate a break in thought or to emphasize a point. In Canva, there are two ways to create an em dash: the direct input method and the copy-paste method.

Direct Input Method

To create an em dash using the direct input method in Canva, follow these steps:

1. Open Canva and create a new design.
2. Click on the text box where you want to insert the em dash.
3. Type two hyphens (–) where you want the em dash to appear.
4. Canva will automatically convert the two hyphens into an em dash (—).

Copy-Paste Method

Another way to create an em dash in Canva is to use the copy-paste method. Follow these steps:

1. Open Canva and create a new design.
2. Open a text editor or word processor program.
3. Type an em dash (—) in the text editor or word processor.
4. Copy the em dash (—) from the text editor or word processor.
5. Go back to Canva and click on the text box where you want to insert the em dash.
6. Paste the em dash (—) into the text box.

In conclusion, creating an em dash in Canva is a simple process that can be done using either the direct input method or the copy-paste method. By following the steps outlined above, users can easily insert an em dash into their designs to add emphasis or to indicate a break in thought.

Tips for Using Em Dashes Effectively

Avoid Overuse

While em dashes can be a great way to add emphasis or set off a phrase, overusing them can be distracting and take away from the impact of your writing. It’s important to use them sparingly and only when they add value to your message.

One way to avoid overuse is to consider if the em dash is the best punctuation mark for the job. Sometimes a comma or parentheses can work just as well or better to set off a phrase. It’s also important to consider the context of your writing and the tone you want to convey. Using too many em dashes can come across as overly dramatic or informal.

Know When to Use Em Dash

Em dashes are most commonly used to set off a phrase or clause that adds emphasis or extra information to a sentence. They can also be used to indicate a sudden break or interruption in thought. Here are a few examples of when to use an em dash:

• To set off an explanatory phrase: “The conference room was too small for the team—especially with all the new hires.”
• To indicate a sudden break in thought: “She was about to tell him the news—no, she couldn’t do it.”
• To add emphasis to a phrase: “The new product was a game-changer—for the entire industry.”

It’s important to use em dashes intentionally and with purpose. When used correctly, they can add impact and clarity to your writing.