Hyphens and Dashes

In what circumstance are hyphens used?

• forming compound words
• connecting words and numbers
• separating ideas or thoughts
• writing out phone numbers

Which of the following options uses proper punctuation?

• I saw a duck billed platypus at the city-zoo.
• I saw a duck-billed platypus at the city zoo.
• I saw a duck-billed-platypus at the city zoo.
• I saw a duck billed platypus--at the city zoo.

When might you see several hyphens breaking up a single word?

• when the word is more than 10 letters long
• in a dictionary
• when the word spills over from one line of text onto a second line
• when the word contains numbers

Which of the following options uses proper punctuation?

• The blond-haired boy loved the beach--until he was stung by a jellyfish.
• The blond--haired boy loved the beach until he was stung by a jelly-fish.
• The blond haired boy loved the beach--until he was stung--by a jellyfish.
• The blond-haired boy loved the beach--until--he was stung by a jellyfish.

Which of the following is equivalent to the phrase: "Coach Z--who guided his team to the championship--was given a contract extension."

• Coach Z.  Who guided his team to the championship.  Was given a contract extension.
• Coach Z (who guided his team to the championship) was given a contract extension.
• Coach Z: who guided his team to the championship; was given a contract extension.
• Coach Z-who guided his team to the championship-was given a contract extension.

Choose the word that needs a hyphen in the following sentence: Mr. Jones is eighty one years old.

• Mr. Jones
• eighty-one
• eighty-three-years
• years-old

Choose the word that needs a hyphen in the following sentence: That recipe calls for one fourth cup of flour.

• That-recipe
• for-one
• one-fourth
• one-fourth-cup

Choose the word that needs a hyphen in the following sentence: Mrs. Lindsey likes to drink coffee in the afternoon for a pick me up. 

• to-drink-coffee
• in-the-afternoon
• after-noon
• pick-me-up

After what word should a dash be placed in the following sentence?: Mr. Wilder completed his first marathon he really did! 

• after Mr. Wilder
• after completed
• after marathon
• after really

After what word should a dash be placed in the following sentences?: "I I don't know how to swim," he admitted, embarrassed. 

• after I
• after don't
• after how
• after he