What is a Hyphen?
- A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark.
- We use it to join words or parts of words.
- We do this to show that the two words are related to each other.
- They should be considered as one new word
When To Use Hyphens?
Two-Word Adjectives Before Nouns
- Made up of two words that work together.
- They act as one adjective. So, connect them with a hyphen.
- Use a hyphen if they come before the word that they are modifying.
- Don’t remove the load-bearing pillar of the house.
- They make a rock-hard pizza that no one can eat!
- We’re looking for a pet-friendly neighborhood.
- This is some heavy-duty truck!
Noun/Adjective/Adverb + Present/Past Participle à Hyphen
- There are some tired-looking children in the park.
- Mr. Wayne Musk is funding a community-based healthcare system.
- Wind-powered generators are costly to build.
- These are meat-fed cats.
- He is a well-known celebrity in Los Angeles.
Hyphenated Compound Words
- Mother-in-law
- Master-at-arms
- Editor-in-chief
- Ten-year-old
- Factory-made
- Twelve-pack
Hyphens and Numbers
- Hyphenate numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine when they’re spelled out.
- Thirty-five bottles, twenty-nine puppies
- It was in nineteen ninety-nine when I went to England
- I’ve got a hundred sixty-four of these packets to sell.
Hyphens and Numbers
- Hyphenate numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine when they’re spelled out.
- Thirty-five bottles, twenty-nine puppies
- It was in nineteen ninety-nine when I went to England
- I’ve got a hundred sixty-four of these packets to sell.
Hyphen in Compound Adjective with Numbers
- When numbers are used as the first part of a compound adjective, use a hyphen
- This applies whether the number is written in words or in digits.
- The Principal gave a 20-minute speech to the students.
- Maya is proficient in fourteenth-century literature.
- An eagle flew in through the third-story window.
- Don’t use hyphen if the number is the second word in the compound adjective.
- My grandpa has Type 2 diabetes.
- The elevator got stuck at Basement 6.
Hyphen With Prefixes: Ex-, Self-, All-, high. low
- Use a hyphen with the prefix ex- (meaning former).
- Don’t place Karen next to Jared! He’s her ex-husband!
- The ex-Governor attended the gala.
- This is a self-serve restaurant.
- Is this a full-serve gas station?
- The Lord is all-mighty.
- Low-flying airplanes are dangerous
- The government needs to support the low-income families.
- Take a high-interest savings account. It will help you in the future.
When not to use Hyphens?
If the noun comes before the two words
- If the words function together as an adjective before the noun they’re describing, then use hyphen.
- It’s tough to eat this pizza because it is rock hard.
- Is this hotel dog friendly?
- This medicine is fast acting.
Adverb + adjective à No hyphen
- Sara made up a clearly-impossible story. (incorrect)
- Sara made up a clearly impossible story. (correct)
Adverb + participle à No hyphen
- The cabin was like a heavily-decorated dollhouse. (incorrect)
- The cabin was like a heavily decorated dollhouse. (correct)
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