Hyphens

An article about the use of hyphens in English grammar and typography

Hyphens are punctuation marks used to join words and to separate syllables of a single word. They are often used to create compound terms and to clarify meaning in written text. Hyphens should not be confused with dashes, which are longer and have different uses.

Usage

Hyphens are primarily used in the following contexts:

Compound Words

Hyphens are used to form compound words, which are words made up of two or more words combined to create a new meaning. For example:

• Mother-in-law
• Well-being
• Editor-in-chief

Compound words can be open (written as separate words), hyphenated, or closed (written as one word). The use of hyphens in compound words can vary based on style guides and regional differences.

Prefixes and Suffixes

Hyphens are sometimes used with prefixes and suffixes to avoid ambiguity or awkwardness. For example:

• Re-enter
• Co-operate
• Anti-inflammatory

Word Breaks

Hyphens are used to divide words at the end of a line when there is not enough space for the entire word. This is known as hyphenation. For example:

• "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog, demonstrating the use of hyphen-

ation in text."

Clarification

Hyphens can be used to clarify meaning in a sentence. For example:

• "He is a small-business owner" (meaning he owns a small business) versus "He is a small business owner" (meaning he is a business owner who is small).

Rules and Guidelines

The use of hyphens is governed by several rules and guidelines, which can vary depending on the style guide being followed. Some general rules include:

• Use hyphens to avoid ambiguity.
• Use hyphens in compound adjectives when they precede a noun (e.g., "a well-known author").
• Do not use hyphens with adverbs ending in -ly (e.g., "a highly regarded scientist").

Differences Between Hyphens and Dashes

Hyphens should not be confused with dashes, which are longer and serve different purposes. There are two main types of dashes:

• En dash (–): Used to indicate a range or connection, such as "pages 10–20" or "New York–London flight."
• Em dash (—): Used to create a strong break in a sentence, often replacing commas, parentheses, or colons.

Also see

• Dash (punctuation)
• Punctuation
• Compound word
• Typography