A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that’s used to join words or parts of words. It’s not interchangeable with other types of dashes. Use a hyphen in a compound modifier when the modifier comes before the word it’s modifying.
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What is the main purpose of a hyphen?
For most writers, the hyphen’s primary function is the formation of certain compound terms. The hyphen is also used for word division, which is briefly explained here. Never use a hyphen in place of an en dash or an em dash.
What is the effect of a hyphen?
In effect, a dash allows you to redefine what was just written, making it more explicit.You can also use a dash as it is used in the first sentence of this paragraph: to frame an interruptive or parenthetical-type comment that you do not want to de-emphasize.
What does a hyphen do in a sentence?
Hyphens connect two words to make a single word. Hyphens are also used to attach a prefix to a word. In some situations, hyphens connect adverbs and adjectives to describe a noun. This can be avoided by rewording the sentence.
Should Eye Opening be hyphenated?
Does “eye opening” in the following sentence need a hyphen? It was an eye opening experience. Yes. I suppose an exception would be if your optometrist introduced you to the experience of opening your eyes in a new way.
How many uses does a hyphen have?
Generally, hyphenate two or more words when they come before a noun they modify and act as a single idea. This is called a compound adjective. When a compound adjective follows a noun, a hyphen is usually not necessary.
Can a dash replace a colon?
Use an em dash sparingly in formal writing. In informal writing, em dashes may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought. Examples:Remember, a colon would be used here in formal writing.
Can a hyphen replace a colon?
The em dash can be used in place of a colon when you want to emphasize the conclusion of your sentence. The dash is less formal than the colon.
Do you put a space before and after a hyphen?
Sometimes confused with the hyphen, a dash comes between words as a form of division, whereas a hyphen generally joins words or parts of words to indicate a connection. When typing, use two hyphens together without spaces to form a dash. Do not put a space before or after the dash.
What is an example of a hyphenated word?
Note that hyphenated compound words are most commonly used when the words being joined together are combined to form an adjective before a noun. For example: forty-acre farm. full-time worker.
How do you use dashes and hyphens?
The dash is often used after an independent clause. The hyphen, on the other hand, is used to join two words together like yellow-green. It usually does not have a space between the words. Also, the dash tends to be slightly longer than the hyphen, and usually would have spaces before and after the symbol.
Should easy to use be hyphenated?
The way to solve the word placement competition is to treat the phrase “easy to use” as a single word. The hyphens join the more tightly bound phrase.
Is chocolate covered hyphenated?
Knowing when to hyphenate a word and when to write it as two words or as a compound is a difficult concept for me to master. BUT when these compound modifiers come after a noun, they are not hyphenated: The peanuts were chocolate covered.
What are the four hyphen rules?
Using hyphens with prefixes
- Hyphenate prefixes before proper nouns.
- Use a hyphen with most words that begin with the prefix self-.
- Use a hyphen with words that begin with the prefix ex-.
- Use a hyphen with most words that begin with the prefix non-.
- Use a hyphen when the prefix ends in the same letter the word begins.
How do you tell if a word should be hyphenated?
Generally, you need the hyphen only if the two words are functioning together as an adjective before the noun they’re describing. If the noun comes first, leave the hyphen out. This wall is load bearing. It’s impossible to eat this cake because it is rock hard.
Is a hyphen a dash?
A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that’s used to join words or parts of words.A dash is longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause.
What do a hyphen look like?
Alternatively known as a dash, subtract, negative, or minus sign, the hyphen ( – ) is a punctuation mark on the underscore key next to the “0” key on US keyboards. Pictured is an example of the hyphen and underscore key on top of the keyboard.Keyboard help and support.
Is cloud based hyphenated?
Always lowercase cloud and services. After the first mention, it’s OK to use cloud services from Microsoft or cloud services offered by Microsoft. Hyphenate in all positions.
Is it okay to use dashes in writing?
Use dashes to set off an idea or an appositive within a sentence. A dash (—) is a punctuation mark used to set off an idea within a sentence and may be used alone or in pairs. Dashes interrupt a thought in a more dramatic way than a phrase enclosed in commas, but less theatrically than parentheses.
Should I use a dash or a colon?
A dash is a stronger and more informal mark than a colon. Think of a colon as part of the sentence that just ambles along.A colon informs the reader that something more is coming along. The words after a colon define or clarify what came before the colon.
Is it okay to use dashes in an essay?
The first thing to know when talking about dashes is that they are almost never required by the laws of grammar and punctuation. Overusing dashes can break up the flow of your writing, making it choppy or even difficult to follow, so don’t overdo it.