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I have a simple question. What's the correct writing style?
1.1–8.4%
or
1.1 – 8.4%

Without space around an en dash looks much better for my eyes. But I read somewhere that if it is a decimal number (non-integer), en dash should be wrapped with space.

I didn't find an answer by a quick google search. I am writing/reviewing for technical document/research report.

I mostly follow APA style.

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  • A little tip about markdown: you need two spaces at the end of a line before hitting Enter once to get a soft linebreak like you intended with your first few lines. I've fixed that for you. You can always click on the little "edit" button under other answers and questions to see their markdown if there is something that just doesn't seem to work. More information can be found here. And clarification from comments should ideally be preserved by editing the question so that others can see it and it doesn't get lost. Comments are temporary.
    – Secespitus
    Mar 20, 2019 at 19:34

1 Answer 1

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In a comment under your question, you said that you mostly follow APA style.

This is what the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.) says:

4.13 Hyphenation

  • en dash: An en dash is longer and thinner than a hyphen yet shorter than an em dash and is used between words of equal weight in a compound adjective (e.g., Chicago–London flight). Type as an en dash or, if the end dash is not available on your keyboard, as a single hyphen. In either case, no space before or after.

Although this doesn't specifically address number ranges (as opposed to words), number ranges are mentioned in the APA Style Blog post "Computer Editing Tip: En Dashes":

The Publication Manual shows en dashes for

  • items of equal weight (e.g., test–retest, male–female, the Chicago–London flight),
  • page ranges (e.g., in references, “... Journal of Applied Psychology, 86, 718–729.”),
  • and other types of ranges (e.g., 16–30 kHz).

This, too, does not explicitly discuss non-integer number ranges. However, in the absence of any other guidance, the prevailing guidance—due to consistency and a lack of any reason not to—remains to use en dashes without spaces.


If you have seen en dashes with spaces surrounding them, then they are there because other styles guides or house styles have been followed.

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    thank you jason. That makes sense! Mar 20, 2019 at 21:15

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