noun
Common
em
EHM
Em (noun) means a typographic unit of measurement equal to the point size of the current font, used to size text and spacing. Example: “The designer set the line height to 1.5 em.”
noun
1
A typographic unit of measurement equal to the point size of the current font, used to size text and spacing.
"The designer set the line height to 1.5 em."
"Add a left margin of two em so the paragraph stands out from the rest."
"In CSS, one em equals the font size of the surrounding text."
2
The name of the letter M.
"He drew a large em on the whiteboard to start the diagram."
"The sign spelled the word with a tall red em at the start."
"After l comes em in the alphabet, so he wrote it next."
interjection
1
A filler sound expressing hesitation, similar to "um" or "er".
""Em... I'm not sure," she said, stalling for time."
""Em, well, I think we could try the other road," he said slowly."
"Em, could you repeat that? I did not quite catch the question."
How to use em
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly seen today as a unit in web and print design (like the "em dash" or font sizing in "em" units), or as a hesitation sound in speech.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- ems
- Adjective
- eir
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The designer set the line height to 1.5 _____.
Etymology
Attested since 1808. In typography, the em is named after the em quadrat (later called em quad), from m quadrat, a metal type used in letterpress typesetting, which is as wide as the point size of the font.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “em” mean?
The word “em” means a typographic unit of measurement equal to the point size of the current font, used to size text and spacing. In plain terms, most commonly seen today as a unit in web and print design (like the "em dash" or font sizing in "em" units), or as a hesitation sound in speech.
How do you pronounce “em”?
“Em” is pronounced EHM (/ˈɛm/ in IPA).
How do you use “em” in a sentence?
Here is “em” used in a sentence: “The designer set the line height to 1.5 em.”
What part of speech is “em”?
Depending on how it is used, “em” can be a noun and an interjection.
Is “em” a common word?
“Em” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “em” have?
“Em” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a typographic unit of measurement equal to the point size of the current font, used to size text and spacing.
What is the difference between an em and an en?
Both are typographic units based on the font's point size. An em equals the full point size; an en is exactly half an em. This carries into punctuation: the em dash (—) is twice the width of the shorter en dash (–), and they serve different purposes.
What is an em dash used for?
An em dash (—) marks a strong break in a sentence — like this — setting off an interruption, an aside, or an emphatic addition. It can replace commas, parentheses, or a colon. It takes its name from the em, being roughly one em wide in traditional type.
How big is one em?
One em equals the current font's point size, so in 12-point text an em measures 12 points. Because it scales with the type size, the em is a relative unit: designers use it to set margins, indents, and spacing that stay proportional as text grows or shrinks.
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