Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that’s used to join words or parts of words. It’s not interchangeable with the various dashes. Hyphens are often used in compound modifiers when the modifier comes before the word it’s modifying. If you’re not sure whether a compound word has a hyphen, check your preferred dictionary.
Use a hyphen with the prefixes ex- (meaning former), self-, all-; with the suffix -elect; between a prefix and a capitalized word; and with figures or letters:
Should a compound word be two words, one word, or hyphenated? Here are some (loose) guidelines on using hyphens. The forms of compounds (two words used together) in English are not fixed.
For the most part, compounds formed from a prefix and a word are usually written solid (superhero). However, if the prefix ends with a vowel and the word it is attached to begins with a vowel, the compound is usually hyphenated (de-escalate, co-organizer, pre-engineered).
In grammar, the most common use of a hyphen is if two words function together as an adjective before the noun they modify. These words are called hyphenated adjectives. You may also use it to divide a word with inadequate space in the line for the whole word.
Hyphens (-) connect words and parts of words, and aren’t separated by spaces. Dashes, (–) and (—), indicate ranges or pauses in writing, and are usually separated by spaces. The common rule of thumb is to use a dash when showing a break in the text, a range in dates or time.
Hyphens are a form of dash (-) which we use between words or parts of words. We can use hyphens to make compound words, most commonly compound nouns: French lorry-drivers have blockaded three ports. Compound nouns formed with prepositions and particles are also usually separated by hyphens: Come and meet my father-in-law.
A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark used to connect two or more words (or parts of words) to show that they form one unit of sense – e.g., “fast-paced”, “shake-up”, “four-year-old”, “post-punk”. Mistakes with hyphens are very common: leaving them out when they’re needed, adding them when they’re unnecessary, or putting them in the wrong place.
Video Lesson. Six Ways to Use Hyphens. Hyphens are used in six ways: (1) To join the words in a compound adjective. six-foot table. silver-service waitress. (2) To join the words in a compound noun. passer-by. paper-clip. (3) To join a prefix to a word. re-establish. ultra-expensive. (4) To join the words in a compound verb. to ice-skate.
28th December 2014. When to Hyphenate. “Hyphenation” is a term for linking two words with a hyphen to make a compound word. In this context, “compound” simply means two separate words have been joined together. But when should you hyphenate a word? We’ll explain the basics below. Compound Adjectives.