I also used to have the em dash on my bookmarks bar for the longest time! Couple of easier options for a (Windows) PC, if you're interested: if you have a numpad, you can use the Alt code (hold Alt and type 0151 on numpad with Num Lock enabled), or you can install a compose key utility like WinCompose. Rather then holding, you hit the compose key, then a sequence of keys (I think the em dash is simply --- but I'm not at my computer atm and that Alt code is burned into my brain so I end up using it without thinking). You can also define whatever custom sequences you want in order to produce arbitrary text (e.g. I can type [Right Alt, traa] and get "traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns").