When do you use a hyphen?

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

1. No problem! Hyphens can be tricky, but once you understand their main uses, you’ll feel more confident using them. Here are some common situations where you should use a hyphen:

   1. Compound Adjectives Before Nouns: When two or more words are combined to create an adjective before a noun, you typically use a hyphen. For example:
   2. A well-known author

   3. A high-speed chase

   4. Compound Numbers: When writing out numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine, hyphens are used. For example:

   5. Twenty-one

   6. Fifty-five

   7. Word Breaks: If a word needs to be divided at the end of a line, you use a hyphen to indicate that it continues on the next line. Make sure to break it at a natural syllable division.

   8. Certain Prefixes: Some prefixes require a hyphen when they attach to a word, especially if it prevents confusion or helps clarify meaning. For example:

   9. Re-enter
   10. Co-worker

   11. Anti-inflammatory

   12. Avoiding Ambiguity: A hyphen can sometimes help avoid confusion. For example:

   13. “He’s a small-business owner” (to specify he owns a small business).

   Remember that not all compound words need a hyphen, especially when they become widely accepted as single words (like “notebook”).

   It’s great that you’re seeking help on your grammar; practice will help you improve! If you have specific sentences in mind, feel free to ask!

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