What are the rules for using hyphens?

The Hyphen

Use a hyphen at the end of a line to divide a word where there is not enough space for the whole word.
Use a hyphen to indicate a word spelled out letter by letter.
Use a hyphen to join two or more words to form compound adjectives that precede a noun.
Use a hyphen to avoid awkward doubling of vowels.

What are hyphens used for in sentences?

Hyphens’ main purpose is to glue words together. They notify the reader that two or more elements in a sentence are linked. Although there are rules and customs governing hyphens, there are also situations when writers must decide whether to add them for clarity.

What is the rule for hyphenated compound words?

There are a great many grammar rules regarding hyphens in compound words. One important rule of thumb to remember is that in most cases, a compound adjective is hyphenated if placed before the noun it modifies, but not if placed after the noun.

How do you write a formal hyphen?

Here’s the short version:

Hyphens are punctuation marks used to link multiple words.
Use a hyphen to join words together to avoid ambiguity.
Use a hyphen when two or more words act as a single adjective before a noun.
Hyphenate spelled-out numbers between 21 and 99 (twenty-one, ninety-nine).

Do you need a hyphen before based?

Rule 4: Use a Hyphen With a Few Suffixes However, there are a few suffixes that need to be hyphenated, including -elect, -style, -based, and -free.

How do you use dashes and hyphens?

What’s the Difference Between a Hyphen and a Dash? A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that’s used to join words or parts of words. It’s not interchangeable with other types of dashes. A dash is longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause.

Do hyphenated words count as one or two?

So, once compound words are closed or hyphenated, they are counted as one word. If the compound word is open, e.g., “post office,” it is counted as two words.

What’s a hyphen look like?

What does a hyphen look like? A hyphen is a punctuation mark that looks like a single floating, horizontal line. It is one character long. It is used to join words and word parts, so it will usually be found within a word.