X2014

x2014 refers to the Unicode character U+2014, commonly known as the em dash. It is a punctuation mark used to indicate a break or interruption in a sentence, or to set off information for emphasis.

Unicode U+2014 has the decimal value 8212. In UTF-8, it encodes as the three-byte sequence E2 80 94. In HTML, the em dash can be written as — or as —.

Usage of the em dash varies by stylistic conventions. It can introduce or interrupt a clause, replace parentheses or commas for emphasis, or indicate an abrupt shift in thought. In many varieties of American English, typographic conventions favor no spaces around the dash, while some editors and other style guides allow or require spaces on both sides.

The em dash is distinct from other dash characters. The hyphen (U+002D) is the shortest and is used to join words or syllables, while the en dash (U+2013) is typically used for ranges (such as 5–7). The em dash, by contrast, is generally longer and functions as a more flexible punctuation mark. Its length is traditionally related to the width of an uppercase M in the font, hence the name.

Historically, the em dash has been a staple of typography, carried through metal type into early digital typesetting and modern fonts. Rendering can vary by font, platform, and encoding, but its basic function as a versatile dash remains consistent.

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