Other Punctuation Marks

The Hyphen (-)

Sometimes it can be difficult to determine or remember which compound words are hyphenated. Consult a dictionary whenever you are in doubt. This next lesson will also help you figure out when to use a hyphen and when not to use a hyphen.

The hyphen is used to connect two or more words that act together as an adjective to describe a noun.

Example:

Sarah Palin is becoming a well-known candidate.

In most cases you should not use a hyphen when a compound follows the noun.

Example:

After the election is over, Sarah Palin will continue to be well known.

Never use a hyphen to connect –ly adverbs to the words they modify.

Example:

The slowly-moving slug was smashed. (incorrect)

The slowly moving slug was smashed. (correct)

In a series, hyphens are suspended.

Example:

Would you like to purchase upper-, lower-, or floor-level tickets?

The hyphen is used when writing the written form of a fraction and of compound numbers twenty-one to ninety-nine.

Example:

One-third of my paycheck goes toward bills.

A hyphen is used with the prefixes all-, ex-, and self- and with the suffix –elect.

Examples:

I bought a new self-help book last week.

Melissa Cheatham is the senior class president-elect.

The hyphen is used to separate double or triple letters in some compound word (anti-intellectual, cross-stitch).

The hyphen is also used to avoid words that have two meanings and pronunciations. With words like recreation and re-creation, without the hyphen it would be hard to distinguish between the two words and their two different meanings.

Examples:

Hiking Castle Crags is the most tiring form of recreation.

At the Irish Folk Museum they display re-creations of old Irish towns and farm life.

One last note about hyphens:

Hyphens are used to divide a word at the end of a line of writing.

Always divide a word between syllables. Do not divide one syllable words. Check your dictionary to see where syllable divisions occur for any word.