en-dash

Used to indicate a span of time or place, or to replace the word to. In headlines, sidebars, pullout, graphics, sports stories, etc., an en-dash is used to indicate the word to in scores, time, etc. For example:

  • Red Sox top Yankees in final inning, 9–8
  • The Boston Red Sox eked out a 9–8 win after entering the last inning trailing the Yankees when Wilyer Abreau struck a home run, and sent the Yankees packing…
  • The Boston–New York line

However, screen readers will skip the en-dash, and simply read the content as if the en-dash isn’t there. It is always better to use the word to when the word to is indicated, or to reword so an en-dash is not indicated.

The examples from above, reworked:

  • Red Sox top Yankees in final inning, 9 to 8
  • The Boston Red Sox eked out a 9–to–8 win after entering the last inning trailing the Yankees when Wilyer Abreau struck a home run, and sent the Yankees packing…
  • The Boston–to-New York line

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