En

In typography, an "en" refers to a space that is equivalent to half the width of an em. The term originates from the measurement of a typeset letter "N", which is typically half the width of an "M" in many typefaces. In digital and print typography, the en is used as a unit of measurement to define the width of a space or a dash.

Synonym

Half-em

Examples

1. In Text Setting: Please insert an en space between the numbers; it should read ‘10–20’ instead of ‘10-20’.
2. In Design Layouts: For the brochure layout, use an en dash to separate the date ranges of the upcoming events.
3. In Punctuation Guides: Refer to our style guide for proper use of en dashes in different contexts.

Recommendations

• Range Indication: Use the en dash to indicate a range of numbers, dates, or times. Examples include pages in a book, time spans, or date ranges.
• Conflict: Employ the en dash when showing a connection or conflict between two things, such as in sports scores, or contrasting relationships.
• Compound Adjectives: Use an en dash when forming a compound adjective from multi-word elements or proper nouns before a noun, especially if one of the elements is an open compound or when both elements are proper nouns.
• Avoid Spaces Around En Dashes: Generally, en dashes do not have spaces on either side when used in English text. This differs from the em dash, which can be used with or without spaces, depending on stylistic guidelines.
• Clarity in Complex Lists: Use en dashes to maintain clarity in complex lists or constructions where commas are already used for separating items. This helps in distinguishing different levels of separation within the list.

Contact the team at AP&B to learn more.