How to Insert the Non-breaking Hyphen ( ‑ ) on a Mac

Want to combine and separate two words at the same time with a hyphen and keep them on the same line to boot? Find out here how to insert a non-breaking hyphen on a Mac.

First, a Bee Has Four Wings and Flies with Two

The bee flying on two of its four wings is no exception.

Bees have four independent wings, which fold around the back on the ground. When a bee sets off, though, little hooks—called hamuli (singular hamulus)—connect the wings on either side, and they function as one during flight.

Want to hook up two words or numbers so they appear as two—separated with a hyphen—but work as one?

How to Insert the Non-breaking Hyphen ( ‑ ) on a Mac

Looking for long hyphens instead? How to Insert Long Hyphens (Em Dash and En Dash) on a Mac

Using Character Viewer

Using Windows? How to Enter a Non-Break Hyphen on Windows
Editing for the Web? How to Use a Nonbreaking Hyphen ( ‑ ) in HTML

Insert the No-Break Hyphen Using the Keyboard Alone (and Text Replacement)

To set up a shortcut for adding a non-breaking hyphen on macOS:

1. Open System Settings or System Preferences on the Mac.
   Here’s how: Select the Apple logo (  ) in the macOS menu bar, for instance, and choose System Settings….
2. Select Keyboard.
3. Click Text Replacements…
   macOS Monterey and earlier: Go to the Text tab.
4. Click +.
5. Type what you want to use as a key for the non-breaking hyphen under Replace.
   Example: You can use something like \- or _-.
6. Now enter the non-breaking hyphen under With.
   Paste it: You can find the non-breaking hyphen to copy and paste below.
7. Click Done.
   macOS Monterey and earlier: You can skip this step.
8. Close the Keyboard preferences window.

Now, to enter a no-break hyphen anywhere (i.e., anywhere text expansion works):

1. Type your short code for ‑.
2. Press Space or a punctuation mark, or simply continue typing.

Using Unicode Input for No-break Hyphen

To enter a non-breaking hyphen directly using Unicode on a Mac:

1. Enable and switch to Unicode Hex Input.
2. Press the Option key.
3. Now type 2 0 1 1 while you hold Option.

Insert a Non-breaking Hyphen in Word for Mac

In Word for Mac (and other Office applications), you can use the methods above, of course, or use the handy Office keyboard shortcut for inserting a non-breaking hyphen.

How to Insert the Non-breaking Hyphen ( ‑ ) on a Mac: FAQ

Can I insert multiple non-breaking hyphens in a row?

Yes. They will appear as separate hyphens, though, not as a long line.

There are no non-breaking versions for the en dash and em dash characters.

When would I use a no-break hyphen?

Insert the non-breaking hyphen in chiefly two cases—primarily where It does not belong as far as typographic rules of style are concerned:

• Use the non-breaking hyphen to indicate a range of values (e.g., pages 15‑28).
  Why: Having the line break in between the numbers reduces clarity and looks odd.
  It’s not the correct character: The—slightly longer—en dash ( – ) should separate the two numbers at the beginning and ending of the range (e.g., pages 15–28); there is, alas, no non-breaking version of the en dash (or the em dash for that matter) at this time.
• You can also use the no-break hyphen where the hyphen should appear and you do not want to risk a line break (e.g., five‑cent coins, quick‑witted and e‑book).

You can also insert long (em dash and en dash) hyphens on a Mac, of course.

Can I copy and paste the non-breaking hyphen?

Yes. Use the following button to copy the no-break hyphen:

Non-breaking hyphen: ‑

copy

(How to insert a non-breaking hyphen on a Mac tested with macOS Sonoma 14.3, Ventura 13.4, Monterey 12.0 and Big Sur 11.5; updated March 2024)