50 Hyphens
Andrew Stracuzzi and André Cormier
Learning Objectives
- Identify the uses of hyphens.
- Properly use hyphens in sentences.
A hyphen (-) looks similar to a dash but is shorter and used in different ways.
Hyphens between Two Adjectives That Work as One
Use a hyphen to combine words that work together to form a single description.
- The fifty–five–year–old athlete was just as qualified for the marathon as his younger opponents.
- My doctor recommended against taking the medication, since it can be habit–forming.
- My study group focused on preparing for the midyear review.
Hyphens When a Word Breaks at the End of a Line
Use a hyphen to divide a word across two lines of text. You may notice that most word-processing programs will do this for you. If you have to manually insert a hyphen, place the hyphen between two syllables. If you are unsure of where to place the hyphen, consult a dictionary or move the entire word to the next line.
My supervisor was concerned that the team meet–
ing would conflict with the client meeting.
Key Takeaways
- Hyphens join words that work as one adjective.
- Hyphens break words across two lines of text.
