Is it a dash or hyphen?
Table of Contents
Is it a dash or hyphen?
A hyphen joins two or more words together while a dash separates words into parenthetical statements. The two are sometimes confused because they look so similar, but their usage is different. Hyphens are not separated by spaces, while a dash has a space on either side.
What is the purpose of a hyphen in writing?
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.
What are hyphen words?
A hyphenated word is a word that contains at least one hyphen. Typically, hyphenated words are compound words, which means the hyphen connects two or more words. There are other uses of hyphens that we use in writing that aren’t compound words.
What words can be hyphenated?
What words should be hyphenated?
- Compound adjective + noun. When you use a compound adjective before the noun, you should hyphenate:
- Age + noun. If age is being used as an adjective before the noun, you should hyphenate:
- Numbers 21 through 99.
- Some prefixes.
- For clarity.
When should dashes be used?
Use dashes to mark the beginning and end of a series, which might otherwise get confused, with the rest of the sentence: Example: The three female characters—the wife, the nun, and the jockey—are the incarnation of excellence. Dashes are also used to mark the interruption of a sentence in dialogue: Example: “Help!
How do you 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.
When should a writer use a dash?
How do you type a hyphen in Word?
You can also insert a special dash using the Insert Symbol menu:
- In a Microsoft Word document, choose Insert in the Menu bar.
- Choose Symbol.
- Choose More Symbols.
- Click the characters you’d like to insert. The Em dash should be on the second row.
- When you’re finished, click Close to close the special characters window.
How do you know if a word is hyphenated?
Summary:
- Use a hyphen to join two or more words serving as a single adjective before a noun:
- Use a hyphen with compound numbers:
- Use a hyphen to avoid confusion or an awkward combination of letters:
