Template talk:Zero width joiner em dash zero width non joiner

Incorrect usage of formatting characters

(I have formatted this as a request for comment, despite it not being one, since it's not necessary.)

This template currently comprises the characters U+200D ZERO WIDTH JOINER, U+2014 — EM DASH, and U+200C ZERO WIDTH NON-JOINER. The zero-width joiner (ZWJ) prevents a line break before the em dash, while the zero-width non-joiner (ZWNJ) expressly allows a line break after the em dash. However, the intended purpose of these characters is not simply to control line breaks, but to control the formation of ligatures, especially in non-Latin scripts. Instead, U+2060 WORD JOINER is intended to be a generic way to prevent line breaks, and does not carry the semantic or technical meanings of the ZWJ and ZWNJ. The Unicode Line Breaking Algorithm, which web browsers and other software use to determine where to insert line breaks, allows line breaks to occur both before and after an em dash. While a word joiner is needed to prevent a break before the dash, there doesn't need to be a formatting character after the em dash, since lines may break there anyway.

Question 1: Should this template ({{Zero width joiner em dash zero width non joiner}}) be changed from ZWJ + em dash + ZWNJ (‍—‌) to word joiner + em dash (⁠—), possibly with a name change?

While the Manual of Style does not require controlling line breaks around an em dash, MOS:DASHVAR recommends using U+00A0   NO-BREAK SPACE before an en dash, and a regular space after. This behavior may also be useful to em dashes (which is why this template was created).

Question 2: Should this template's functionality be merged into {{Em dash}}? Should this template be redirected there instead of keeping it?

— gabldotink [ talk | contribs | global account ] 22:07, 26 April 2026 (UTC) — gabldotink [ talk | contribs | global account ] 22:07, 26 April 2026 (UTC)

References