Hyphens

Hyphens

By Tonya Gregory

Fill in the Blanks

Rewrite this sentence using hyphen to avoid ambiguity.

We invited thirty nine year old boys.

Fill in the Blanks

Rewrite this sentence using hyphen to avoid ambiguity.

Jet was a green eyed cat.

What are hyphens?

​A hyphen is a short line that connects words.

It helps make your writing more precise.

Hyphens make your writing more clear.

The most-loved menu items are on the back.
The most loved menu items are on the back.

What is the difference in meaning?

Rule 1: hyphenate compound adjectives

Compound adjectives are 2 or more words that work together to describe something.

• well-known singer

• bright-blue sky

• six-year-old child

Multiple Choice

I always add _________ to my pizza.

• fire roasted-tomatoes.

• fire-roasted-tomatoes

• fire roasted tomatoes

• fire-roasted tomatoes

After the noun, no hyphen

• Use a hyphen when words describe something before a noun

• Remove the hyphen when the description comes after the noun

• Examples:

• * A well-known artist (before the noun)

• * The artist is well known. (after the noun)

Multiple Choice

Use hyphens to connect two or more words that function as a single adjective _______ a noun, such as "well-known author."

• before

• after

• with

• far away from

Multiple Choice

Select the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

• The latitude of Chicago is forty two degrees.
• The latitude of Chicago is forty-two-degrees.
• The latitude of Chicago is forty-two degrees.

Multiple Choice

Select the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

• I have thirty-five-dollars to spend.
• I have thirty-five dollars to spend.
• I have thirty five dollars to spend.

Multiple Choice

Carefully choose the correct hyphenated word.

The dog friendly event was held at the local park.

• held-at

• local-park

• dog-friendly

Multiple Choice

I need to re-create my science project about solar powered lighting before the state contest.

• recreate
• solar-powered
• solar-powered-lighting
• Correct as is

Multiple Choice

The water she was standing in was knee deep and filled with toxic waste.

• knee-deep
• water-she-was-standing-in
• toxic-waste
• Correct as is

Rule 2: Use hyphens with number descriptions

Examples:

• two-story building

• five-minute break

• twenty-three students

Multiple Choice

Bob decided to go to a four year college.

• Correct as it is.

• four-year

• four-year-college

Multiple Choice

There was a _________ delay between the finishing of the interview and the airing of Oprah's special.

• three-to four-week

• three to four week

• three-to-four-week

• three to four-week

Rule 3: prefixes

Use a hyphen when the prefix comes before:

• proper noun

• numbers

• dates

Examples:

• anti-American

• pre-1990

• mid-July

Rule 3: prefixes

Certain prefixes require a hyphen:

• self-

• all-

• ex-

• semi-

Examples:

• self-reliance

• all-inclusive

• ex-wife

• semi-colon

Rule 3: other prefixes only use to avoid confusion

prevents awkward combinations:

- re-sign (to sign again) vs. resign (to quit)

- re-create (create again) vs. recreate (have fun)

Rule 4: special cases

Such as repeated letters or unusual combinations:

• shell-like

• bee-eater

• co-op

Multiple Choice

Raul did hours of _________to decide which haircut would look best on his poodle.

• research

• re search

• re-search

Multiple Choice

A talented pastry chef asked Abe to become _______ of her bakery.

• co owner

• coowner

• co-owner