Hyphens

Hyphens

By Tonya Gregory

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