One Cool Tip Newsletter

January 7, 2026

Your daily dose of tech-savvy brilliance!

😀Greetings!, Happy Windows Wednesday, Cool Tipper!

Get ready to streamline your digital life with simple, actionable tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Today's Cool Tip Theme: Em Dash Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcut

IN THIS ISSUE

• 🚨 FTC Scam Alert!
• 💻 CES 2025 PC Upgrades.
• 🤖 AI Writing Editor.
• ⌨️ New Dash Shortcuts.
• 🚀 Instant Copilot Access.
• 📺 Wireless Casting.
• 🖥️ Graphics Reset Trick.

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• 😂 Laugh with Us! Enjoy our Tech Joke of the Day, Haiku and Cool Tip Comics.



• 🌐 Stay Informed! Check out ICYMI, and our One Cool Tip Video.

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Today's Tech Trivia

Answer at the end of this newsletter.

🚨Remote Access Scam Impersonates FTC 🚨

Scammers are impersonating the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and its refund administrators, claiming they need remote access to your computer to issue a refund.

Their latest scheme references the Advanced Tech Support refund program, falsely promising money if you let them connect to your device.

Here’s what you need to know:

• It’s a scam. The FTC will never ask for remote access or payment to issue a refund.
• All legitimate refund checks have already been mailed. No new claims are being accepted.
• Scammers may ask you to install software, share personal info, or buy gift cards.

If you get a call like this:

• Hang up immediately.
• Do not click links or install anything.
• Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

And in Other News...

• Big PC Upgrades from CES 2025

PC makers used CES to show off the next wave of Windows 11 laptops, and the theme was simple: faster performance, smarter AI features, and longer battery life.

Here’s what stood out:

• New chips from AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm promise smoother performance and better on‑device AI for everyday tasks.
• Copilot+ PCs are expanding across major brands like Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung.
• Many new models focus on lighter designs, brighter screens, and all‑day battery life, making them great for work or travel.

If you’re thinking about upgrading your PC this year, these new Windows 11 devices are worth a look.

They’re built to handle the latest AI features and keep things running fast without draining your battery.

Try this Cool AI prompt:

Let AI do the hard work for when you need to use en & em dashes and hyphens:

Copy/Paste this AI-powered prompt. Try it in the One Cool Tip AI Companion (free ChatGPT account required) or Copilot, Gemini or ChatGPT:

You are my writing editor. Review the text below and correct my dash usage using standard style rules:

• Use an en dash for numeric ranges, dates, times, and spans (example: 9–5, pages 12–18).
• Use an em dash to mark a strong pause, interruption, or emphasis within a sentence.
• Use a hyphen only for compound words and modifiers.

Preserve my original voice and tone. Do not add formality or length.

Return:

1. A revised version of the text
2. A short list explaining each dash change and why it was made
3. One optional alternative where punctuation is lighter for a more conservative style

Text to edit:

[PASTE TEXT HERE]

New Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcut for En and Em Dashes

If you write emails, reports, or headlines in Windows, you have probably fought the “how do I type a proper dash” problem. Microsoft just removed that friction with two OS-level shortcuts that work anywhere you can type, no numeric keypad required. 

Have you ever paused mid-sentence to copy a dash from somewhere else because Alt codes are a hassle on a laptop keyboard? 

That tiny interruption adds up, especially if you write for a living or you care about clean typography in client-facing work. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use the New Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts for En and Em Dashes.

Windows 11 is finally treating the en dash and em dash as first-class punctuation you can type on demand. 

Feature Explanation

Windows 11 now supports dedicated keyboard shortcuts for inserting the en dash (Unicode U+2013) and em dash (Unicode U+2014). 

These are OS-level shortcuts, which is the important part: they are not limited to Word or a single app. 

They are meant to work across editors, browsers, email clients, and most text fields. 

The shortcuts:

• En dash: Windows logo key + Minus (the hyphen key)
• Em dash: Windows logo key + Shift + Minus 

Why it matters:

En dash (–) is the clean “range” mark (think dates, pages, scorelines).

Em dash (—) is the “break in thought” mark writers use for emphasis or interruption.

This update also lands at a funny cultural moment: some people claim heavy em dash usage is an “AI tell.” 

That claim is overstated, and the punctuation itself is older than any chatbot. 

The practical point is simpler: Windows is catching up on a basic writing usage. 

What You’ll Gain

Faster writing flow with fewer context switches

Cleaner ranges in business writing (dates, budgets, page spans)

Better typography in headlines, newsletters, and proposals

A reliable method on laptops without a numeric keypad 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Microsoft Web/Desktop

1. Open any app where you can type (Notepad, Outlook, Word, Chrome, Teams, Slack).

A. Type an en dash:

1. Hold the Windows logo key.
2. Press the Minus key (the same key as the hyphen).

B. Type an em dash:

1. Hold the Windows logo key.
2. Press Shift + Minus key.

fig. 1 - New Windows 11 Shortcuts for Dashes Example

iOS

This Windows shortcut does not apply on iPhone or iPad, but you still have fast options:

1. Open any typing field.
2. Long-press and hold the minus (hyphen) key on the on-screen keyboard.
3. Slide to choose the longer dash you want. 

Android

Like iOS, the Windows shortcut does not apply, but many keyboards support it:

1. Open any typing field.
2. Long-press the minus (hyphen) key.
3. Select the dash variant from the popup row (varies by keyboard). 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Works at the OS level, not just inside Word. That means email, browsers, and chat tools benefit. 
• No numeric keypad requirement, which eliminates the classic laptop pain point of Alt codes. 
• Reduces formatting inconsistencies in business documents (hyphen-minus used as a fake dash is common and looks sloppy).

Cons

• Rollout reality: you may not have it yet depending on your update channel and build. Plan for a transition period on teams with mixed patch levels. 
• Some apps may intercept Windows-key combos in edge cases (especially remote desktop or specialized terminal environments). If your workflow lives there, test before you standardize on it.
• Cultural noise: some readers now “notice” em dashes and try to infer authorship. The workaround is simple: use the punctuation you intend, and keep your rhythm human. 
• 
  

Feature Access

If you do not see it today, treat it as “currently rolling out” and re-check after the next Windows update cycle. 

Score

Criterion | Score (0–10) | Justification

Value 8

Saves time and removes a common laptop friction point for anyone who writes regularly.

Usability 9

Two memorable shortcuts that work broadly across apps, with minimal learning cost. 

Wow Factor 6

Not flashy, but it is a quality-of-life upgrade you will feel every day once it becomes muscle memory.

Total: 23/30 👍 Good

A small shortcut that meaningfully improves writing flow, similar in spirit to Win + V for clipboard history, but targeted at punctuation precision.

Key Takeaways

If you write on Windows 11, you can now type proper dashes without Alt codes or copy/paste. 

Once it reaches your PC, this becomes one of those “why was this not always here?” shortcuts you use daily. 

Cool Tip Snapshot

• Feature Name: OS-level en dash and em dash shortcuts.
• Platform(s): Windows 11.
• Quick Benefit: Insert professional dashes instantly, anywhere you type.
• Access Type (Free, Subscription, Beta): Currently rolling out.

Try It Yourself

Open Notepad and write three lines: a date range, a page range, and one punchy sentence using an em dash. 

Then drop a comment telling me where it worked (or did not) on your PC, and share this tip with your team, family, and friends.

• 5 Cool Tips for a Better New Tech Year
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• MORE Windows 11 Cool Tips
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Read the Full Cool Tip.

🆒Tell Me More

• The old-school Windows method still works: Alt + 0150 (en dash) and Alt + 0151 (em dash), but it usually requires a numeric keypad. 

• No Numpad Needed: The biggest win here is for laptop users (like Surface or Dell XPS owners) who physically couldn't use the old Alt + 0151 code without an external keyboard.

• Word vs. Windows: Microsoft Word has its own "AutoFormat" that turns two hyphens (--) into a dash automatically. This new shortcut is for everywhere else (Chrome, Slack, Outlook) where that auto-magic doesn't exist.

⏩Quick Tips

• 🧪 Test in Notepad first: If it works in Notepad, it will usually work in most text boxes.

• 🧾 Use the en dash for ranges: Dates, times, page spans, and scorelines read cleaner with an en dash.

• 🧠 Use the em dash for emphasis: When a parenthetical aside should land harder, swap parentheses for an em dash.

• 😊 Emoji Panel: Press Win + . (period) to open the full symbol menu if the shortcuts aren't working yet.

• 📋 Clipboard History: Press Win + V to paste a dash you copied earlier if you are stuck on an older PC.

• 🔍 Magnifier Warning: If Win + - zooms your screen out instead of typing a dash, your Windows version hasn't received the input update yet.

• 📝 Smart Quotes: Most apps handle "curly quotes" automatically, but dashes usually required manual intervention until now.



• 🛑 Don't Overuse: Em dashes are powerful emphasis tools, but too many can make a paragraph look cluttered. Use sparingly!

✅ More Must-Read Tech Tips

Check out these Cool Tips and Tricks for using Em Dashes:

• Range Cleanliness: Use an en dash for numeric ranges so “3–5” reads like “through,” not subtraction.



• Headline Punch: Use an em dash when you want a sharp aside that reads fast.

• Laptop Friendly: Skip Alt codes on tenkeyless keyboards by switching to the new Windows shortcuts. You will write faster with fewer interruptions. 

• Style Consistency: Pick a standard: hyphen for compound words, en dash for ranges, em dash for interruptions. Train your eye, then enforce it while editing. 

• Fallback Plan: If a shortcut is unavailable on a given PC, use Character Map or other symbol methods to insert Unicode punctuation.

• Cheat Sheet Note: Create a pinned note in OneNote with your top punctuation shortcuts.

• Template Upgrade: Update your document templates (reports, proposals) to include proper ranges and consistent punctuation. Use Find/Replace to clean old hyphens in ranges.

• Mobile Match: On iPhone, long-press the hyphen to pick the longer dash, so your notes match your Windows writing style. 

• Team Standard: If you edit a team newsletter or SOPs, add a one-line style rule: ranges use en dash, asides use em dash. Consistency reads as quality.

👀 How Do I Open Copilot Instantly in Windows 11?

Remember when the Win + C keyboard shortcut opened Cortana? 

Microsoft retired the shortcut after moving away from its voice assistant, leaving the key combo unused. 

Win + C is back!

Win + C makes a comeback—this time launching Copilot, Microsoft's AI-powered assistant in Windows 11.

Windows 11 Desktop

1. Ensure your system is updated to Windows 11 24H2 (KB5060842). 
2. Press Win + C on your keyboard. 
3. Copilot opens. 
4. Start typing to interact with Copilot.

Press Win + C today to test Copilot’s instant launch. Let us know what you think in the comments! 

Discover more HERE. 

🤔 Have You Ever Wondered How to Screen Share?

Have you ever found yourself juggling multiple devices, trying to present or share media seamlessly? 

The Windows Key + K shortcut is your gateway to a streamlined media-sharing experience. 

Here's how to do it.

1. Ensure your PC and the target device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Press the Windows Key + K to open the Connect pane.
3. Your PC will search for wireless displays and audio devices.
4. Select the device you want to cast to from the list.
5. Follow any on-screen instructions to complete the connection.
6. Once connected, your media will be displayed on the chosen device.
7. Click "More Cast Settings" to open the Settings > System > Display screen for more Display settings.

Pro Cool Tip

• In the Settings app (System > Display), you can customize your projection settings – choose whether to extend your display, duplicate it, or show content on only the second screen.

The Windows Key + K shortcut is your key to a more streamlined and connected Windows experience. 

Find out more HERE.

🙋‍♂️ Here's How to Reset The Windows Graphic Card.

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of an important task when your screen suddenly goes black? 

The Ctrl + Win + Shift + B shortcut is designed to reset the graphics subsystem on your Windows machine. 

This can be particularly useful when you’re experiencing graphical issues or black screen problems.

Here's how to do it.

1. Press the Ctrl, Win, and Shift keys on your keyboard simultaneously, followed by the ‘B’ key. 
2. Your screen will go black for a split second and you’ll hear a beep, indicating that the graphics subsystem has been reset.

This shortcut provides a quick and easy way to troubleshoot and resolve common graphical issues without needing to restart your computer or delve into complex settings.

Learn more HERE. 

❓Did you share this newsletter with three friends yet?

😎 Cool Facts

• 60%: Over 60% of laptop users lack a numeric keypad. Source.

• 1.1: Unicode added the en and em dash in version 1.1 (1993). Source.

⌨️Today's Cool Keyboard Shortcuts

• Win + - : Insert en dash

• Win + Shift + - : Insert em dash

• Win + V : Open clipboard history

• Win + . : Open emoji and symbols panel

😜 Tech Joke of the Day 😅

Why did the dash apply for a job?

It wanted a longer position.

🔎 Do you have a Cool Tip or tech question? Email us at onecooltip.com@gmail.com.

Cool Tip Haiku

Windows key plus dash,

Typographic clarity,

No more Alt-code pain.

WhatsApp’s Improved About Feature Finally Makes Status Updates Useful Again

How to Turn Messy Documents into Clean Data Tables with Google NotebookLM

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ChatGPT Voice Is Now Built Directly Into the Main Chat Window

Windows Super Secret Keyboard Shortcuts to Open Microsoft Applications

Do you know the super secret keyboard shortcuts to open Microsoft Applications?

Watch

When punctuation enters the chat like it’s auditioning for Shakespeare

Trivia Answer: A) Keys jamming when typed too fast

The QWERTY keyboard layout was primarily designed to address the problem of keys jamming in early mechanical typewriters, which occurred when adjacent keys were pressed rapidly.

The arrangement separated commonly used letter sequences, such as "th" or "he," to prevent the delicate machinery from sticking.

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Tomorrow's Cool Tip is waiting to amaze you.

Until then, go forth and conquer the tech world with your newfound knowledge!

Be sure to visit www.OneCoolTip.com for Cool Tech Tips for a Cooler Life!

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Enjoy!



Rodger

Chief Cool Tipper

onecooltip.com@gmail.com

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