When do you use a hyphen?

One Reply to “When do you use a hyphen?”

1. Hyphens can be a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of them, it will be easier to improve your writing. Here are some common ways to use a hyphen:

   1. Compound Adjectives: When two or more words work together as a single adjective before a noun, you usually need a hyphen. For example:
   2. Correct: A well-known author, a high-quality product.

   3. Incorrect: A well known author, a high quality product.

   4. Numbers: Use hyphens for numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine when they are written out. For example:

   5. Correct: Twenty-five, seventy-two.

   6. Incorrect: Twenty five, seventy two.

   7. Prefixes and Suffixes: Sometimes, a hyphen is used with prefixes (like ex-, self-, and all-) or suffixes (like -elect) to clarify meaning or avoid confusion, especially when the prefix ends in the same letter that the word begins with.

   8. Correct: Re-enter, self-esteem, anti-inflammatory.

   9. Incorrect: Reenter, selfesteem, antiinflammatory.

   10. Word Breaks: If you need to break a word at the end of a line, use a hyphen where the word can be separated. For example:

   11. Super-

   12. market

   13. Clarifying Meaning: Sometimes, hyphens help to clarify meaning or avoid ambiguity. For instance:

   14. “The little girl and the big dog” vs. “The little-girl and the big dog” (the first means a girl who is little; the second could imply there’s a singular huge dog that belongs to the little girl, making it unclear).

   Remember, hyphens are not the same as dashes (like em dashes or en dashes) or minus signs. If you’re ever unsure, it’s always a good idea to consult a dictionary or a grammar guide. Practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to ask for feedback on your writing!

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