In the [Drupal docs](http://drupal.org/handbooks) we often see misuse of the hyphen where an [em dash](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Em_dash#Em_dash) should be the order of the day. For my own reference as well as yours here's how to write an em dash.
Windows: Alt+0151 (en dash Alt+0150)
OSX: Shift-option-dash
Linux: Go to: System > Preferences > Keyboard > Layouts > Layout Options > Compose key position, and check ‘Right Alt is Compose’.
Then, gasp, — = Right Alt + —
| glyph | Unicode | HTML | HTML/XML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| en dash | – | U+2013 (8211) | – |
– or – |
| em dash | — | U+2014 (8212) | — |
— or — |
The [PagePlus keyboard](http://www.aimwell.org/Fonts/Keyboards/keyboards.html#PagePlus) looks interesting but I haven't tried it. I have a Swedish keyboard so perhaps it won't work anyhow.
> God forbid that the em-dash's unique function be gradually encroached upon by the comma, the semi-colon and the parenthesis, just because of an ignorant oversight at the dawn of the PC. It would be a tragic loss. There are some times when nothing less than an em-dash will do.[^1]
Amen to that.
[^1]: [http://makebelieve.nfshost.com/posts/04/02/20/0](http://makebelieve.nfshost.com/posts/04/02/20/0)
Comments
compose key usage
In my case, Ubuntu Jaunty, the compose key usage is:
* en-dash: `RightAlt - - .`
* em-dash: `RightAlt - - -`
en not em
As stated on Wikipedia, `Alt+0151` gets you an *em dash*.
`Alt+0150` gets you an *en dash*. Your post states the latter — on purpose? If so, please clarify why.
Dam strait
Dam strait, thanks for spotting my typo, must slow down on this new keyboard, been tripping me up for days now :) So no, not deliberate, just poor proofing.
UI enhancements, hmmm, I think BUEditor + Markdown + Markdown Preview is about it. I know I know, I should build a real theme, one day...
edit: ahh, two others as well, Admin menu and Fasttoggle :)
Nice
btw, I'd be interested in a list of UI-enhancing modules you are using on this site. ;)
How glad I am that I have a
How glad I am that I have a Mac and don't have to remember any random numbers just to enter common typographical elements…
(Hey, did you see that ellipsis up there? A true ellipsis, not three periods. Option-semicolon on the Mac.)
For the Linux instructions, you may want to clarify whether that's for Gnome or KDE or whatever. Not all Linux/Unix users are going to see the same desktop, and truly l33t ones won't be seeing a desktop at all.
Gnome
I believe the instructions are for Gnome, I'm not (yet) a Linux user.