Hyphens, Dashes, and Ellipses

Front

What is a hyphen?

Back

A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark used to join words or parts of words, such as in compound words (e.g., well-known) or to indicate a word break at the end of a line.

Front

What is an en dash?

Back

An en dash (–) is a punctuation mark used to indicate a range of values, such as in dates (e.g., 1990–2000) or to connect related items (e.g., pages 10–15).

Front

What is an em dash?

Back

An em dash (—) is a punctuation mark used to create a strong break in a sentence, often to set off a phrase or clause for emphasis or interruption.

Front

When should you use a hyphen in compound adjectives?

Back

Use a hyphen in compound adjectives when they appear before a noun (e.g., a well-known author) but not when they come after the noun (e.g., the author is well known).

Front

What is the purpose of ellipses?

Back

Ellipses (...) are used to indicate omitted text, a pause in thought, or an unfinished thought in writing.

Front

How do you correctly punctuate a range of pages?

Back

Use an en dash to connect the page numbers (e.g., pages 5–10).

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What is the difference between a hyphen and an en dash?

Back

A hyphen connects words or parts of words, while an en dash indicates a range or connection between two related items.

Front

Provide an example of a sentence using an em dash.

Back

Example: "I was going to the store—if I can find my keys!"

Front

What is the correct way to write 'Italian American'?

Back

The correct way is 'Italian-American' with a hyphen, as it is a compound adjective.

Front

When is it appropriate to use ellipses in writing?

Back

Ellipses are appropriate when you want to show that something has been left out or to create suspense.