As a general rule of thumb, it is usually better to **not** included spaces around em dashes. > *"Dashes are nearly always set 'closed up'; without any space before or after."* > - [James Felici](https://layersmagazine.com/the-art-of-type-dash-away-all.html) However, there are different stylistic takes on how the em dash can be used, and these conventions can vary depending on the style guide being followed. Here are a few authoritative sources and their guidelines: 1. **The Chicago Manual of Style**: This is a widely respected style guide in American publishing and generally [recommends using the em dash **without spaces on either side**](https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed17/part2/ch06/psec087.html). 2. **The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook**: The AP Stylebook, used in journalism, [recommends **using spaces around the em dash**](https://www.prdaily.com/dashes-hyphens-ap-style/). 3. **The Modern Language Association (MLA) Style Manual**: The MLA style, commonly used in academic writing, also [recommends **using the emdash without spaces**](https://style.mla.org/is-it-wrong-to-type-spaces-before-and-after-a-dash/). --- #### Related #writing