Figure Dash vs. En Dash
Unicode assigns FIGURE DASH and EN DASH separate code points. The en dash has established editorial uses such as ranges in many style systems; the figure dash is a distinct character associated with figure-width or numerical typography and should not be substituted automatically for the en dash.
Use an en dash when the governing editorial style calls for it, such as many number-range conventions; use a figure dash only when the typographic or data context specifically requires U+2012.
Key details
Important caveats
Style Boundary
En-dash usage in ranges is a house-style convention; character identity does not make every range style universal.
Further guidance
Character Difference
Unicode separately identifies FIGURE DASH (U+2012) and EN DASH (U+2013).
Practical Application
Use an en dash for ranges and other functions required by the governing editorial style. Reserve the figure dash (U+2012) for typographic/data contexts that specifically require a dash aligned with figures; do not substitute it merely because a line contains numbers.
Reader Check
Does the style guide call for a normal range dash, or is there a genuine fixed-width/figure-alignment requirement?
Use
Use the character required by the typographic or editorial convention rather than choosing solely by visual width.
Worked Example
For a page range such as “12–18,” an en dash is the normal editorial choice; use a figure dash only when the data or typography specification explicitly calls for U+2012.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- General Punctuation — Unicode Names List (opens in a new tab)Unicode Consortium · Unicode identities for directional quotation marks and related punctuation characters
- Dashes and hyphens — Microsoft Style Guide (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · En-dash and em-dash functions, including number ranges and sentence breaks