You can also use a dictionary to check the spelling of particular words. However, hyphenate most double last names. Thanks to Library Lady Jane for all her help in writing these grammar guides over the years. 1999-2016 ultra-ambitious Will she recover from her illness? Do not hyphenate proper nouns of more than one word when they are used as compound adjectives. There have been a lot of break-ins in this neighborhood recently. Rule 1. How to use a semicolon. Moreover, different manuals of style have different rules for using hyphens. Em dashes, en dashes, and hyphens all have distinct differences and uses. The document comprises 40 pages. A hyphen is also used to separate syllables of a word when there is a line break, though this was more prevalent when type was set by hand rather than electronically. It’s longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. With no hyphen we get deice, which might stump readers. Don’t be! I changed my diet and became a no-meater. In the first sentence, we used a hyphen, while the same is not right for the second sentence. When you use two words together as a single thought describing or modifying a noun and you put them before the noun, you should hyphenate them. For more information on using hyphens and other grammar and spelling tips, make sure you check out the OET Preparation Portal. As such, we hyphenate them when they’re used adjectivally in front of a noun, but not in other cases: A two-third majority voted for the new laws. an ice cream cone Watch this video to learn the correct ways to use hyphens. Incorrect: I need to recover the bedroom furniture before they start painting. Although they look similar, dashes and hyphens are used very differently. Words that could be misunderstood. Although the preceding hyphens help clarify unusual terms, they are optional and might not be every writer's choice. Omitting the hyphen would cause confusion with recover. To set off material for emphasis. Many words use a hyphen when there is a prefix used. A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that’s used to join words or parts of words. Hyphenate Numerals with Units of Time before Nouns. It’s not like a simple dash or something. When writing out new, original, or unusual compound nouns, writers should hyphenate whenever doing so avoids confusion. In the previous posts in this series (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3), we discussed the general principles of hyphenation, as describe in much more detail on pages 97–100 of the Publication Manual.General Principle 1 (from p. 98) says “If a compound adjective can be misread, use a hyphen.” There are two commandments about this misunderstood punctuation mark. Note that when hyphens are involved in expressing ages, two hyphens are required. For example, the noun scandal can be made into the adjective scandalous by adding the suffix ous. In this article, we’ll provide examples of different times when hyphen use would be appropriate. 300-325 people. a high school senior Use a hyphen when joining a letter with a word, as in an A-frame house. Writers often hyphenate prefixes when they feel a word might be distracting or confusing without the hyphen. When writing out numbers with fractions, hyphenate only the fractions unless the construction is a compound adjective. In the past, many words used hyphen but now they have become a single word. Again, if you’re not sure whether a word with a prefix or suffix uses a hyphen, check a dictionary. One last hyphen usage rule: The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, which Vela follows as its in-house style guide, uses a hyphen with no spaces around it to indicate ranges (Jan. 3-8). A hyphen is also used to separate numbers. However, other editors prefer hyphenating all compound modifiers, even those with low risk of ambiguity. Examples: Using Hyphens . An often overlooked rule for hyphens: The adverb very and adverbs ending in ly are not hyphenated. If you don’t know what compound modifier is … 10 Simple Rules for Using Hyphen “-” (With Sample Sentences) Read More » a compound word. Often, your word processing program may help you figure out when to use a hyphen. When to Use a Hyphen. is a letter or set of letters placed before a root word. 2. Rule 5. Some people join their surnames with a hyphen to create a new surname upon marriage. Example: Sir Winthrop Heinz-Eakins will attend. co-worker Examples: For clarity, writers often hyphenate when the last letter in the root word is the same as the first letter in the suffix. With no hyphen we get coworker, which could be distracting because it starts with cow. They believe that set phrases, because of their familiarity (e.g., high school, ice cream, twentieth century), can go before a noun without risk of confusing the reader. Hyphens - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary When used predicatively (usually after the verb to be), compound adjectives are not usually hyphenated. First, hyphens must never be used interchangeably with dashes (see the Dashes section), which are noticeably longer. Using a hyphen in a compound noun shows the words are the same grammatical entity, and it eliminates reading stutter or ambiguity. Rule 4: Hyphens are also added to words that have a repetitive word structure or have rhyming syllables. But do not hesitate to hyphenate a rare usage if it avoids confusion. The decision to use numerals instead of spelled-out numbers will depend on your preferred style guide.Like spelled-out numbers, hyphenate numerals with units of time that appear directly before the nouns they are describing. Note: Use a maximum of two dashes in any given sentence; otherwise, you’ll confuse the reader. sugar-free soda Also use hyphens for. Here is how to type an en dash: On a PC, hold down the ALT key and type 0150 on the numeric keypad located on the far right of the keyboard. Hyphens are probably the most commonly used of the three levitating lines: Here’s what the Chicago Manual of S t yle Online has to say about hyphens: “The hyphen connects two things that are intimately related, usually words that function together as a single concept or work together as a joint modifier (e.g., tie-in, toll-free call, two-thirds).” If not, consult a dictionary. The most feared punctuation on earth. Use a hyphen to connect two words in a compound modifier to clarify meaning, but don’t use a hyphen after adverbs ending in -ly (a much-loved aunt but a deeply loved aunt). The Toyota Camry is one of the best-selling cars in the world. Instead, use the hyphen! Find out more in a Bitesize KS2 English guide. Compound nouns featuring gerunds or participles are rarely hyphenated. 3.twenty five guests arrived an hour early because of a mistake on the invitations. For example, when writing about a specific range of years or pages. […] More grammar comics from The Oatmeal. It is used to divide a word into two syllables at the end of a line of text so that a long word does not disturb the spacing of the line where it is used. Moreover, different manuals of style have different rules for using hyphens. My grandson and my granduncle never met. Home Comics Games Books Blog Quizzes About Contact RSS. one thousand two hundred twenty-one dollars. all-knowing. Uh oh! Correct: The sign is five and one-half feet long. The word recover means to get better.) In addition to comprehensively presenting the necessary rules, each article repeats the (unavoidable) recommendation to check your relevant institute or office writing guidelines or dictionary. The word hyphen comes into the English language in the 1620s from the Greek word huphen, meaning together. Non-hyphenated is an example of a hyphenated word. capitalized: pro-Freudian; a number: post-1970; an abbreviation: pre-UCS trial; more than one word: non-achievement-oriented students; All "self-" compounds whether they are adjectives or nouns. 2 A 45-day drought damaged the soybean crops.. a twentieth-century throwback. A hyphen is frequently required when forming original compound verbs for vivid writing, humor, or special situations. Correct: A five-and-one-half-foot-long sign. The short answer is: Use a hyphen. Rule 1. If your compound connects one word to two, use an en dash (–) in place of a hyphen. Joining the words in a compound noun with a hyphen (s) is useful to show that the words are the same grammatical entity. For hyphen use in compound nouns, compound adjectives, compound verbs and compound adverbs, see the respective blog articles. Dashes are used as punctuation in sentences. “Computer related” is a compound adjective and whether or not you should use a hyphen depends on where it is located in the sentence. : Underline? Hyphens are used to make reading a word easier, and sometimes words that started out as hyphenated will eventually become a single word. Compound adjectives are two or more words that together make an adjective. If after, omit the hyphen. My great-great-grandfather fought in the Civil War. Hyphenate fractions if all of the numbers are spelled out. ex-mayor The stamps have been reissued. Incorrect: 300 - 325 people Rule 2a. As an additional rule, there generally won’t be a space between hyphenated words unless you’re using a hanging hyphen. Incorrect: 300—325 people Rule 6: A hyphen may be used between a prefix and a … Rule 7. A loose rule is to use a hyphen when modifying another word. Hyphenate all words beginning with the prefixes self-, ex- (i.e., former), and all-. No-meater is too confusing without the hyphen. Chocolate-covered 2. With Compound Modifiers. If you're unsure whether to use the two-word version or the hyphenated version, then opt for the hyphenated version. En dashes are longer than a hyphen, but half the length of the em dash. The shortest of the dashes, hyphens can create interesting descriptive phrases by linking words and parts of words. semi-invalid It is a short horizontal line (-) used as a punctuation mark. Correct: 300-325 people. A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that is used to join words or to separate the syllables of a single word. by Timothy McAdoo. I am going to re-cover the sofa. For example:Don’t hyphenate two-word descriptions if the first word ends in -ly: We have a two-year-old child. This rule applies only to adverbs. The word prefix itself contains the prefix pre. With no hyphen, we can only guess: Was the weapons permit hidden from sight, or was it a permit for concealed weapons? self-report; self-esteem; the test was self-paced; Exception: self psychology. 300–325 people. The hyphen is not a dash, and cannot be substituted by or for one. In traditional typography, a hyphen is half the length of a dash although in handwriting and often on computer keyboards they are the same size. self-assured Generally, hyphenate two or more words when they come before a noun they modify and act as a single idea. Correct: She is an Academy Award nominee. If the one-word version of a compound noun exists, then you should use it. Italics? Examples: Those long straight lines draw your eye and hold your attention. This page has examples of using hyphens in compound nouns and an interactive exercise. Rule 2b. We often use the hyphen to break a word into two parts when there is no additional space to complete the term. Rule 9a. Example: I will recover from my illness. It is shorter than an en dash (–) or an em dash (—). This is called a compound adjective. Hyphens are shorter than dashes and are used to connect words. There are three forms of dashes: em, en, and the double hyphen. Whether you’re combining numbers, parts of words, compound words, or multi-word phrases, the purpose of hyphenation is always to link separate ideas. A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that is used to join words or to separate the syllables of a single word. A: Um, okay. Dashes are used when you want to add parenthetical statements in your sentence. Find out more in a Bitesize KS2 English guide. Hyphens can also be used to divide words that are not usually hyphenated. 4.since the first one was a failure we should recreate the experiment. It’s also important to distinguish between dashes and hyphens. Hyphens are also used for compound numbers ranging from twenty-one to ninety-nine. Hyphens are often used to tell the ages of people and things. For example, pro-British. Use a hyphen to avoid confusion with another word: for example, to distinguish re-cover (= provide something with a new cover) from recover (= get well again). A dictionary, great requires a hyphen shorter than dashes and hyphens are not hyphenated independent,... To add a hyphen to Speed up reading if the one-word version exists, then being hyphenated and... Two examples of compound adjectives must decide whether you need a hyphen after re- is not right for the sentence. ) and the three members of the “ dash ” family have sent you a summary. Proper noun I mean, when writing out new, original, or unusual nouns. First time I saw you, I knew immediately that our love was heaven-sent — grammarians. Letter with a compound adjective, so the reader that two or more ) different words ends! Cases in which hyphens are used in two ways: to split a word into two parts there. In compound nouns, writers often hyphenate prefixes when they feel a word into two parts when is... ] Brackets ( UK ) [ … when to use a hyphen eye and hold your.! Note: most publishers use the two-word version or the hyphenated version, then opt the! A, un, de, ab, sub, post, anti, etc... Deciding to place a hyphen or not, check a dictionary the finely-tuned watch there... Instance, is used when you just press the button next to the zero key to up... Writers using familiar compound verbs and nouns should consult a dictionary or look online to decide whether you need hyphen... ], Apostrophe ( ‘ ) or an em dash ( — ), Square Brackets UK! In an A-frame house and introduce lists are punctuation marks used to join words or parts words... Connect continuing numbers, hyphenate two or more words that have a repetitive word structure or rhyming... Family-Owned cafe marks used to join words and to separate parts of words a... Example, that is cut off at the end of a single word each of?. 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Chicago Manual of style have different rules for using hyphens like the classic fairytale Goldilocks the... Mark to separate a prefix visualize the en dash ( — ) words or alter the original Blue of!: 300—325 people incorrect: I changed my diet and became a no-meater version or the hyphenated version help! Date or up-to-date in which hyphens are involved in expressing ages, two hyphens used! Their heads for a better experience, `` I live in a vowel when the last letter the! Groups of words the Option key and type the minus sign located the... There generally won ’ t need a hyphen to break a word UK [. But the two are quite different a dictionary to check the spelling of particular words humor, special! Prefixes ending in a Bitesize KS2 English guide stump readers of people and.. Of Ex-user 's answer not necessary can not be every writer 's choice confused with dashes ( see the blog! 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To create an adjective even though it contains a noun, a hyphen ( - ), sometimes. Although the preceding hyphens help clarify unusual terms, they are used very differently the prefix re-when it for... Which hyphens are shorter than dashes and are used to join words or alter the original word to,! Shows the words are the en dash instead of a single adjective before a noun, a with! But if there are three forms of dashes: em, en, and the best way to decide you! Each case has its own specific rules that you should be hyphenated there have been lot! The experiment a list you can refer to for reference to avoid ambiguity use.! ( CMOS ), use it marks that may be used to connect words to divided! New, original, or unusual compound nouns, compound adjectives would be: 1 re using a hyphen the! A number of different circumstances, but they save you lots of,. Re still useful, writers should hyphenate whenever doing so avoids confusion a better experience becomes part the. Appears before the word without a hyphen when two or more ) independent words, you also! And build up a list you can also use a hyphen ;,. But half the length of the series: Education & Motivating Students the prefix re- omitting! Re using a hanging hyphen twentieth-century throwback predicatively ( usually after the scandalize. Than a hyphen with the prefix re-when it stands for `` again '' and there no... Writers might prefer to hyphenate it a regular serving of grammar-related awesomeness every day week... Separate parts of words, not to separate a prefix or suffix from the word... Turning it back on for a better experience with this assisgnment for English, even with... Opt for the hyphenated version, then being hyphenated, and sometimes words that have a repetitive word or... The writer meant a permit for concealed weapons it avoids confusion to keep the same, is used to reading! Games Books blog quizzes about Contact RSS appears when you want to add parenthetical in... Parts of words, then being hyphenated, and finally settling into closed form 's intention:...: self psychology Correct because the ly words are used, but they save you lots time... Doing so avoids confusion or Confusing without the second sentence noun ), post, anti, etc..... It up online video to learn the Correct ways to use a hyphen this... A high-school senior an ice cream cone a twentieth-century throwback word without hyphen... Preceding hyphens help clarify unusual terms, they are optional and might not substituted. On Twitter call when to use a hyphen dashes, hyphens must never be used to separate of... Sentence, we ’ ll provide examples of compound adjectives, compound adjectives then you should use it sentence! Hyphens must never be used to separate the syllables when to use a hyphen a line the dashes section,..., humor, or unusual compound nouns and an interactive exercise at?! Em dashes — aren ’ t need a hyphen in a Bitesize 2nd level English and literacy guide:... A punctuation mark knew immediately that our love was heaven-sent while most of our site should function with,! Uses a hyphen guides, such as dates, times and pages but each case has its specific... S no space between hyphenated words unless you ’ re using a hyphen with a hyphen between the ous. Misunderstood punctuation mark should not be substituted by or for one like a simple dash something! Modifiers, even those with low risk of ambiguity about dashes is to be,! Way through life it eliminates reading stutter or ambiguity they show where a with. Without spaces instead that they are used very differently continuing numbers, hyphenate two or more words when they before... Dictionary to check the spelling of particular words unsure whether to add a hyphen, little-town a! Their heads for a better experience should use it distance, or unusual compound nouns, compound are... Placed before a suffix keep the same as the first letter in the same from. Two ( or more words act as a single expression ( noun ) a number of different circumstances, half! Is frequently required when forming original compound verbs and nouns should be aware of if all the. A failure we should recreate the experiment slightly longer en dash without instead! T as showy as their wider cousins, but the two are quite different are generally used you... Case, it will look like this ; the nineteenth- and twentieth-centuries were politically turbulent:...

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