Hyphen
A hyphen is one of the punctuation marks, a short horizontal line (-), which joins words or parts of words.
A hyphen is placed directly between letters without spaces. A hyphen is not interchangeable with dashes; a dash is a longer horizontal line than a hyphen. The following are uses of a hyphen.
Hyphen with Compound Modifiers
A compound modifier is a combination
of two or more words that work together as a single adjective. A compound
modifier is also called a compound adjective. A compound modifier is hyphenated to make it clear that the words work as a single word.
- The well-known teacher resigned from the job.
- His sixty-year-old father passed away.
Generally, a compound modifier
is hyphenated when it comes before a noun. We don’t need to use a hyphen when
it comes after the noun.
- The teacher, who is well known, resigned from the job.
- His father is sixty years old.
Remember that some compound
adjectives are established. They are always hyphenated.
- State-of-the-art
Types of Compound Modifiers
Adjective + Noun or Noun + Adjective
- Short-term course
- Blue-collar shirt
- Rock-hard cake
- World-famous leader
Adjective + Past Participle or Present Participle
- Old-fashioned people
- Good-hearted man
- Absent-minded students
- Good-looking shoes
- Quick-thinking person
Noun + Past and Present Participle
- Record-breaking speed
- Sun-kissed area
Two Adjectives
- Fat-free milk
- Bluish-purple color
Adverbs + Other Words
Adverbs can be combined with
other words to make compound modifiers. Adverbs that end in –ly and very are
not hyphenated.
- Well-furnished office
- Never-ending friendship
- Far-sighted person
Adverbs ends in -ly or very
- Beautifully dressed girl
- Poorly written contents
- Happily married couple
- Very good person
Compound Modifiers with Numbers
A compound modifier may contain
numbers. The number can be a period of time or age. We hyphenate these numbers
similarly as we hyphenate other compound modifiers.
- Four-week vacation
- Ten-year-old boy
- Eighteen-century era
- Second-grade class
- Twenty-minute speech
Remember that we don’t use a
hyphen when the number is the second word in compound modifiers.
- Type two errors
Compound Modifiers with Fractions
We can use a fraction as a part
of a compound adjective. They should be hyphenated so that the reader
understands which word modifies which noun.
- Half-million dollars
- One-third of a kilo
Hyphen with Prefixes
Hyphen with the Prefix “ex-”
The prefix “ex-” can be used
with different meanings. If it means “former”, add a hyphen. If you are not
sure, just replace it with the word “former”. If it still gives a sense, the
hyphen is necessary.
- Ex-president
- Ex-member
- Ex-mayor
- Excommunicate
Hyphen with the Prefix “self-”
“Self” as a prefix is always
hyphenated.
- Self-confidence
- Self-imposed
- Self-employed
Hyphen with the Prefix “all-”
“All” as a prefix is hyphenated
and looks like a compound adjective.
- All-powerful
- All-in
Prefixes before Capitalized Words
The prefixes that we use before
capitalized words or proper nouns are hyphenated.
- Pro-Palestinian rally
- Post-Depression era
- Mid-July
On the other hand, when a
prefix is capitalized, we also use a hyphen.
- A-frame
Hyphen at the End of a Line
A word at the end of a line can
be divided by using a hyphen when there is no more space to write the complete
word.
Divide between Syllables
When a word like “banner” comes
at the end of a line, we split it between syllables.
- _________Ban-
- ner__________
Remember that the above rule is
not applicable when one letter remains at the end of a line or two letters
remain at the next line.
- ____________a-
- fraid__________
- _________simp-
- ly____________
In this case, the entire word
is written in the next line.
Divide at the Hyphen
When a hyphenated compound word
comes at the end of a line and there is no space, divide the word at the
hyphen.
- ____brother-in-
- law________
Compound Word without Hyphen
When there is no space at the
end of a line, the compound word is divided between the words that make the
compound word.
- _______coffee-
- maker_______
Hyphen with Numbers
Between Two-digit Numbers
In English, we use a hyphen in
two-digit numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine.
- Twenty-one
- Thirty-one
- Forty-one
- Sixty-six
- Ninety-nine
When we write a bigger number,
we hyphenate the above two-digit numbers.
- 1386 = One thousand three hundred and eight-six
Between Numbers of Span
Spans of time, distance, or
quantities are hyphenated when numbers are used.
- 2:00-3:30 p.m.
- 2000-2021
- 200-250 students
Remember that some writers use
a longer en dash instead.
Hyphen for Clarity
Sometimes, it is difficult to
read a word without a hyphen. This happens in two identical letters together.
Using a hyphen can make it easy to read.
- Re-elect
- Re-enter
A hyphen can also avoid
confusion with another word by emphasizing a syllable correctly.
- Re-collect means “to collect again”
- Recollect means “remember”
Hyphen with Physical Quantity, Abbreviation, or Symbol
When physical quantities, abbreviations,
or symbols are used as compound adjectives, we have to check whether they are
spelled out or not. When they are spelled out, add a hyphen.
- 70-pound parcel/70 Ib. parcel
- Ten-centimeter thread/10 cm thread
- 50-meter rope/50 m rope
Hyphen with Suspended Compounds
In the case of using several
similar compounds, it is not necessary to repeat the last part.
- 12-year-old, 13-year-old, and 14-year-old
- 12-, 13-, and 14-year-old
Other Uses of a Hyphen
To Indicate Stammering
- We d-d-d-didn’t s-say anything.
To show a word spelled out
letter by letter
- We spell this h-e-l-l-o.
Words Linked in Meaning
Words whose meanings are linked
in some ways are hyphenated.
- Book-case or bookcase
- Jogging-shoes or jogging shoes
Hyphenated Compound Words
A hyphenated compound word is a
word that is connected by using a hyphen or hyphens. One of the uses of a
hyphen is in hyphenated compound words other than modifiers.
- Brother-in-law
- Ice-skate
- Up-to-date
