Why do we use hyphens? When we write, we can use punctuation to make the meaning/intentions of our language clearer. Punctuation is important in English; without it, it would be difficult to determine the structure and meaning of our language. For example:
Take the following sentence:
"Let's eat, grandma."
The meaning of this sentence is straightforward. A person is addressing their grandma and wants to eat with them. However, if you were to remove the comma, the meaning could be interpreted differently:
"Let's eat grandma."
This instead implies that the person wants to eat their grandma!
We can use a range of different punctuation in our writing, but this article will focus on hyphens. We will look at the meaning of hyphens and some examples (including hyphenated words and hyphens used in sentences). Hyphens are often confused with dashes, so we will also explore the differences between the two.
Hyphens Meaning
A hyphen is a short horizontal line (-) used to join words together or to join syllables within the same word. It is often used to make the meaning of words clearer and prevent misunderstanding (such as misreading or mispronunciation).
Fig. 1 - Hyphen on a keyboard.
Did you know: the word 'hyphen' comes from the Greek 'huphen', meaning 'together.'
Hyphens Example
Hyphens are used for a variety of different reasons. Below are some examples of the different ways hyphens can be used to modify words and add more clarity to a word's meaning:
Hyphenated Compound Words
Compound words are two or more words that are combined to form a single word that conveys one meaning. For example, bed + room = bedroom.
Hyphens can be used in between compound words to show the reader that they express a single idea and function as one unit of meaning. For example:
Hyphens in Compound Nouns
- self-esteem
- passer-by
- sister-in-law
Hyphens in Compound Verbs
- proof-read
- kick-start
- force-feed
Hyphens in Compound Adjectives
- good-looking
- long-distance
- high-quality
Creating Adjectives
Hyphens are also used to create adjectives (also called compound adjectives). This often happens when we talk about numbers (e.g., ages, dates, percentages) and only when the numbers come before a noun. For example, for phrases such as 'four-year-old boy' or 'six-month-long project,' the numbers act as an adjective, so they become hyphenated.
Consider a different example:
Fig. 2 - State-of-the-art is an adjective.
State of the art is a noun phrase when written without hyphens. However, when hyphens are added, it turns into the adjective 'state-of-the-art.' E.g., "He bought a new state-of-the-art sound system."
Attaching a Prefix to a Root Word
A prefix is a letter/group of letters added to the beginning of a root word (the core form of a word). Sometimes, a prefix is attached to the root by using a hyphen. This is often done to make sure the word is not misread or mispronounced. For example:
Writing 'co-operate' instead of 'cooperate.'
'Cooperate' could easily be misread or mispronounced as there are double vowels (two of the same vowels next to each other). Adding a hyphen between the prefix and root word separates them visually into two syllables and helps readers know how to pronounce the word.
Writing out Numbers and Fractions
Hyphens can be used when writing out numbers and fractions. This is done to make it easier to comprehend them. For example:
Writing a List
Hyphens can be used between words in a list to join multiple things together and show that they express the same idea. For example:
"Here we sell one-, two-, and three-story apartment buildings."
Hyphens can be used to spell out words one letter at a time. This makes it easier to distinguish between each letter. For example, when spelling out the word 'friend', you could write it as f-r-i-e-n-d or F-R-I-E-N-D.
They can also be used in between syllables to show how to pronounce a word. For example, take the word 'apologetic.' This can be separated into different syllables and written out as 'a-po-lo-ge-tic.'
Hyphen Words
Below are some more examples of hyphenated words. How many of these words do you use often?
| Hyphenated words (two) | Hyphenated words (three) |
| co-exist | matter-of-fact |
| long-term | mother-in-law |
| full-scale | nineteen-eighty-one |
| absent-minded | merry-go-round |
| brain-washed | up-to-date |
| record-breaking | editor-in-chief |
| quick-witted | happy-go-lucky |
| re-do | forget-me-not |
Did you know: When three words are joined together with hyphens, they can be referred to as trigrams.
Hyphens in a Sentence
Below are some examples of sentences with hyphenated words:
| Hyphenated words used in sentences |
| You need to re-apply for the university course. |
| Ben was fiery-tempered, so he was quick to anger. |
| Add two-thirds of the flour into the mixing bowl. |
| She was born in nineteen-ninety-three. |
| You are at a higher risk of infection if you have a pre-existing condition. |
| Take a ten- or fifteen-minute break. |
| Please write a three-page essay on a subject of your choosing. |
| This song is very well-known. |
| I can tell that this argument is one-sided. |
Hyphens and Dashes - What is the Difference?
Hyphens can often be confused for dashes as they look similar! However, they do differ slightly and are both used for different reasons.
A hyphen is used to separate two or more words. There should not be a gap between the hyphen and the word. For example, 'double-edged' does not need to be written as 'double - edged.'
On the other hand, a dash is used to separate different parts of a sentence and emphasize a certain idea within that sentence. It works in a similar way to brackets. A dash is slightly longer than a hyphen and should have a space on either side of the words. For example:
Of course, I'll play baseball with you - as long as I win!
'Emma - my oldest cousin - is moving to Australia.
We watched a horror movie - I was terrified the whole time.
Dashes can also be used to show a range of time, for example:
Hyphens - Key Takeaways
- A hyphen is a short horizontal line (-) used to join words together or syllables within the same word.
- A hyphen is often used to make the meaning of words clearer and prevent misunderstandings and mispronunciations.
- Hyphens can be used in between compound words (nouns, adjectives, and verbs), to create adjectives, to attach a prefix to a root, to write out numbers and fractions, and to link ideas together in a list.
- Hyphens can also be used to spell out words, either between each letter or syllables.
- A hyphen is used between two or more words, with no gap between them. On the other hand, a dash is used to separate parts of a sentence and has a space on either side.
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