View source for Template:Spaced en dash/doc

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{{Template shortcut |dash|snd}}
This template produces a '''spaced en dash''' ('''{{tlc|snd}}''' for short): <code>{{spaced en dash}}</code>.
It works similarly to the HTML markup sequence <code>'''&amp;nbsp;&amp;ndash;'''&nbsp;</code> i.e. a [[non-breaking space]] (which will not line-break and will not collapse together with normal spaces that come before the template), a short dash (known as an [[Dash#En dash|en dash]]), and a normal space (which ''will'' line-break and ''will'' collapse together with normal spaces that come after the template).

Typical uses of dashes are to mark a break in a sentence, or to set off an explanatory remark (similar to parentheses), or to show spans of time or ranges of values. The [[spaced en dash]] is generally preferred in modern "[[Commonwealth English]]" typography, while older British and recent American typography generally uses an unspaced [[em dash]] for the same purpose. See [[MOS:DASH]].

==Usage==
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">This is an example of how to use the template{{spaced en dash}}like this.</syntaxhighlight>

produces:

{{xt|This is an example of how to use the template{{spaced en dash}}like this.}}

===Lists===
The template may also be used in lists to provide something stronger than a [[Template:·|bold middot]] "'''&middot;'''" or a [[Template:•|bullet]] "&bull;", but shorter than an [[Dash#Em dash|em dash]] "&mdash;".

(The use of dot templates for dotted lists is now '''deprecated'''. Use {{tl|flatlist}} or {{tl|Hlist}} instead; see [[WP:HLIST]].)

Here, the recommended usage is to use ''no'' space before the template and one space after the template, like this:
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">[[Salt]]{{spaced en dash}} [[Pepper]]</syntaxhighlight>
This renders one space on each side of the dash, like this:
:[[Salt]] &ndash; [[Black pepper|Pepper]]
A line break will come ''after'' one of the dashes, not before, when the spacing is used as suggested, like this:
:[[Salt]] &ndash; [[Black pepper|Pepper]] &ndash;
:[[Curry]] &ndash; [[Saffron]]

One use of template "spaced en dash" is within other templates, tables, lists, and similar things to provide a separator between items. It is also to be consistent so that the article editor can use their choice of {{tl|bull}}, {{tl|dot}}, {{tl|middot}}, or {{tl|spaced en dash}} and not have to insert the {{•}}, {{dot}}, {{middot}}, or {{spaced en dash}} symbol, they can use any of these as a simple macro. The idea being that if you have a table with a list of items, you can insert a spaced short dash (or the other symbols) between items that will appear correct, in that the items always have just one separator between them, and when a list crawls to the next line, the dash hangs onto the prior item instead of rolling over to the next line. Notice on the end of this box, the symbol hangs on the end of the last item that will fit on the line indicating that additional items follow on the next line as part of this list, but the item only stays on the line if the item and the dash will fit.  See the column on the right.  (with some smaller items squeezed in to show that the list does not have to be the same number of items per line) but in the box they all fold perfectly once it runs out of space on the line to fit the next item and the dash following. The space on the end makes sure the dash doesn't touch the edge of the box, either.

The markup used is:
{{markupv
|t= Examples for use for lists
|m=<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">Normally, in a real box, these items would be links, but this is an example. Item1{{spaced en dash}} A{{spaced en dash}} B{{spaced en dash}} Item2{{spaced en dash}} Item3{{spaced en dash}} Item4{{spaced en dash}} Item5{{spaced en dash}} extra item{{spaced en dash}} E{{spaced en dash}} 1{{spaced en dash}} 2{{spaced en dash}} 3{{spaced en dash}} 4{{spaced en dash}} 5{{spaced en dash}} 6{{spaced en dash}} 7{{spaced en dash}} {{nowrap|item that won't attach to prior line unless it fits in the remaining space{{spaced en dash}}}} Q{{spaced en dash}} A slightly longer item{{spaced en dash}} KK{{spaced en dash}} An obviously really even longer item that the dash will hang at its end{{spaced en dash}} Item6{{spaced en dash}} C{{spaced en dash}} Item7{{spaced en dash}} Item8{{spaced en dash}} Item9{{spaced en dash}} Item10{{spaced en dash}} Item11{{spaced en dash}} Item12{{spaced en dash}} D{{spaced en dash}} Item13{{spaced en dash}} Item14{{spaced en dash}} Item15{{spaced en dash}} Item16{{spaced en dash}} Item17{{spaced en dash}} Item18</syntaxhighlight>
|r= Normally, in a real box, these items would be links, but this is an example. Item1{{spaced en dash}} A{{spaced en dash}} B{{spaced en dash}} Item2{{spaced en dash}} Item3{{spaced en dash}} Item4{{spaced en dash}} Item5{{spaced en dash}} extra item{{spaced en dash}} E{{spaced en dash}} 1{{spaced en dash}} 2{{spaced en dash}} 3{{spaced en dash}} 4{{spaced en dash}} 5{{spaced en dash}} 6{{spaced en dash}} 7{{spaced en dash}} {{nowrap|item that won't attach to prior line unless it fits in the remaining space{{spaced en dash}}}} Q{{spaced en dash}} A slightly longer item{{spaced en dash}} KK{{spaced en dash}} An obviously really even longer item that the dash will hang at its end{{spaced en dash}} Item6{{spaced en dash}} C{{spaced en dash}} Item7{{spaced en dash}} Item8{{spaced en dash}} Item9{{spaced en dash}} Item10{{spaced en dash}} Item11{{spaced en dash}} Item12{{spaced en dash}} D{{spaced en dash}} Item13{{spaced en dash}} Item14{{spaced en dash}} Item15{{spaced en dash}} Item16{{spaced en dash}} Item17{{spaced en dash}} Item18
}}

==Dot sizes==
{{Dot size}}

==TemplateData==
<TemplateData>
{
	"description": "Inserts a spaced en dash; it renders like this (without the quote marks): \" &ndash; \".",
	"params": {}
}
</TemplateData>

==See also==
* {{tn|·}}, which produces a spaced bold [[interpunct]] ("middot"): "{{·}}"
* {{tn|•}}, which produces a spaced bullet-point: "{{•}}"
* {{tn|\}}, which produces a spaced (forward-)slash: "{{\}}"
* {{tl|en dash}}, which produces an (unspaced) [[en dash]].
* {{tl|spaced en dash space}}, which produces a non-breaking space, followed by an [[en dash]], and then another non-breaking space.
* {{tl|em dash}}, which produces an (unspaced) [[em dash]].
* {{section link|Dash#En dash versus em dash}}

<includeonly>{{Sandbox other||
[[Category:Inline spacing templates]]
[[Category:Typing-aid templates|En dash, spaced]]
[[Category:Character-substitution templates]]
}}</includeonly>