What Are Hyphens?
A hyphen (-) is a short dash used to connect words or parts of words. It is not the same as an en dash (–) or an em dash (—), which serve different purposes. Hyphens are most commonly used to join compound adjectives, link numbers, and clarify prefixes or suffixes. Proper use of hyphens helps prevent ambiguity and ensures that words are read as intended.
Examples:
- “It was a well-known fact.” (Joins a compound adjective)
- “The event took place in mid-July.” (Joins a prefix to a date)
Learn Next: How to Use Parentheses
The Seven Ways to Use Hyphens
There are seven common ways to use a hyphen, each of which are described with examples below:
- Create Compound Adjectives
- Spell Two-Digit Numbers
- Clarify Verbs with Prefixes
- Join Prefixes to Capitalized Words
- Join a Number to a Word
- Join a Prefix to a Date
- Separate Prefixes and Suffixes When the Same Three Letters Come in a Row
1. Create Compound Adjectives
Hyphens are used to link two or more words that act as a single adjective before a noun. This ensures that the words are read together as a unified idea.
Examples:
- “She is a well-respected doctor.”
- “They live in a five-story building.”
What NOT to Do:
- “She is a well respected doctor.” (Without the hyphen, “well” and “respected” might be read separately.)
2. Spell Two-Digit Numbers
Hyphens should be used when writing out numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine in words.
Examples:
- “She turned thirty-three last week.”
- “There were seventy-five applicants for the job.”
What NOT to Do:
- “There were seventy five applicants.” (A missing hyphen makes the number unclear.)
3. Clarify Verbs with Prefixes
Hyphens are often necessary to clarify verbs with prefixes that might otherwise be confusing.
| Prefix + Verb | Correct Use |
|---|---|
| Re-enter | “Please re-enter your password.” |
| Re-cover | “They had to re-cover the roof after the storm.” |
| Re-sign | “He decided to re-sign with the team.” |
| Co-own | “They co-own the restaurant together.” |
| Co-author | “She co-authored a best-selling novel.” |
| Re-press | “They will re-press the vinyl records.” |
| Pre-order | “You can pre-order the book now.” |
| Re-use | “Always re-use plastic containers.” |
| Re-read | “I need to re-read that chapter.” |
| Re-create | “They tried to re-create the magic of the original film.” |
| Pre-date | “These fossils pre-date the dinosaurs.” |
| Re-invent | “He wanted to re-invent himself.” |
| Co-sign | “She agreed to co-sign the loan.” |
| Pre-approve | “They pre-approved the mortgage.” |
| Re-send | “Please re-send the document.” |
What NOT to Do:
- “He had to re-sign the document.” (Could be mistaken as “resign,” meaning to quit.)
4. Join Prefixes to Capitalized Words
Hyphens are required when a prefix is added to a proper noun or capitalized word to maintain readability.
| Prefix + Proper Noun | Correct Use |
|---|---|
| Mid-July | “We are meeting in mid-July.” |
| Anti-American | “His views were considered anti-American.” |
| Pro-Biden | “She joined a pro-Biden campaign.” |
| Pre-Renaissance | “This artifact is from the pre-Renaissance period.” |
| Post-WWII | “Post-WWII policies reshaped the economy.” |
| Non-English | “She speaks several non-English languages.” |
| Neo-Gothic | “The building features a neo-Gothic design.” |
| Un-American | “Some considered his actions un-American.” |
| Pre-Industrial | “The town had a pre-industrial economy.” |
| All-American | “He was an all-American football player.” |
| Mid-September | “Classes start in mid-September.” |
| Un-Christian | “His behavior was deemed un-Christian.” |
| Pro-European | “He has a pro-European stance.” |
| Pre-Columbian | “The ruins date back to pre-Columbian times.” |
| Anti-war | “She attended an anti-war protest.” |
What NOT to Do:
- “The meeting is scheduled for mid July.” (Should be “mid-July” with a hyphen.)
5. Join a Number to a Word
Hyphens are used to connect numbers with words when forming compound adjectives.
| Number + Word | Correct Use |
|---|---|
| 10-year-old | “She is a 10-year-old girl.” |
| 50-page | “The book has a 50-page introduction.” |
| 3-hour | “We took a 3-hour break.” |
| 20-dollar | “I found a 20-dollar bill on the ground.” |
| 100-meter | “He ran a 100-meter race.” |
| 5-star | “They stayed at a 5-star hotel.” |
| 6-foot-tall | “He is a 6-foot-tall man.” |
| 2-day | “The conference is a 2-day event.” |
| 7-member | “They formed a 7-member committee.” |
| 1-bedroom | “They rented a 1-bedroom apartment.” |
| 4-wheel-drive | “He owns a 4-wheel-drive truck.” |
| 12-month-old | “She has a 12-month-old baby.” |
| 15-minute | “We had a 15-minute meeting.” |
| 30-second | “The commercial was a 30-second ad.” |
| 8-year | “He served an 8-year term in office.” |
What NOT to Do:
- “She is a 10 year old girl.” (Without hyphens, the words don’t function as a single adjective.)
6. Join a Prefix to a Date
When adding a prefix to a specific year, use a hyphen to ensure clarity.
Examples:
- “The pre-2000 economy was very different.”
- “Many changes happened in the post-9/11 world.”
What NOT to Do:
- “The pre 2000 economy was very different.” (The missing hyphen makes the sentence unclear.)
7. Separate Prefixes and Suffixes When the Same Three Letters Come in a Row
When adding a prefix or suffix results in three identical letters in a row, a hyphen prevents awkward spelling.
Examples:
- “He is a semi-independent worker.” (Instead of “semiindependent”)
- “She de-emphasized the point.” (Instead of “deemphasized”)
What NOT to Do:
- “He is a semiindependent worker.” (Without a hyphen, the word looks confusing.)
Rhetorical Use of Hyphens
Hyphens can influence tone, pacing, and clarity in writing. They create smoother reading experiences by reducing ambiguity.
Examples:
- “She has a no-nonsense attitude.” (Adds clarity and emphasis.)
- “That was a record-breaking performance!” (Enhances the impact.)
What NOT to Do:
- “She has a nononsense attitude.” (Without the hyphen, the phrase is unclear.)
*Content on this page was curated and edited by expert humans with the creative assistance of AI.