Top Pages
Home
A-Z Glossary
Punctuation
A-Z Confused Words
Common Mistakes
(ordered by seriousness) Top Tip
Get a grammar checker
for your browser ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists Tests and Games Awkward Plurals Sayings and Proverbs Twitter YouTube
(ordered by seriousness) Top Tip
Get a grammar checker
for your browser ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists Tests and Games Awkward Plurals Sayings and Proverbs Twitter YouTube
Hyphens between Words (with Examples)
This Page Includes...
Hyphens (Not Dashes) between Words
Those "dashes" between words are usually hyphens not dashes. This page explains when to use hyphens between words.
Printable and Sendable Test
The table below shows the four main dash-like characters ordered longest to shortest. Note that hyphens are shorter than dashes.Name | Punctuation | How To Get One |
---|---|---|
em dash | — | Ctl + Alt + minus (on the numeric pad) |
minus sign | − | minus (on the numeric pad) |
en dash | – | Ctl + minus (on the numeric pad) |
hyphen | - | - (the key to the right of "0") |
Read about using dashes.
When To Use a Hyphen
Hyphens have two main functions:(1) To join words to show they are a single entity.
- ice-axe (This is one thing. The hyphen makes it clear that we're not talking about an axe made of ice.)
- cooking-oil (This is one thing. The hyphen makes it clear that oil is not cooking, i.e., getting hot)
- free-range eggs ("Free-range" is one adjective. The hyphen makes it clear that the eggs are not free. It also makes the text easier to read.)
- twenty four-page leaflets ("Four-page" is one adjective. The hyphen makes it clear that each leaflet has four pages. It also makes the text easier to read.)
(2) To act as a separator within a word for clarity or readability.
- re-press (The hyphen makes it clear that the meaning is "to press again" and not "repress" as in "to put down by force.")
- re-establish (This is easier to read than "reestablish.")
More about Hyphens in Words
Examples of Using Hyphens between Words
Listed below are the main uses of hyphens:(1) To form a compound noun.
- Being married means I can eat ice-cream in bed.
(Brad Pitt)
- Pass me the plastic wire-fastener.
(2) To form a compound adjective.
- It's only a three-seater aircraft.
- It will be a never-to-be-forgotten experience.
- They had a twenty-year-old cat.
(3) To remove ambiguity with adjectives.
- It is a heavy-metal detector.
- It is a broken-heart pendant.
- He is the best-known actor.
- There are more-important things in life.
- She is an extremely-happy dog.
- She is a very-happy dog.
- The winner typically cheese-chases at 20 mph.
- He needed to gate-vault the obstacle.
- James spent the evening in hospital after he happy-slapped a bystander, who turned out to be a champion boxer.
- This issue is a real no-brainer.
- three hundred twenty-four
- sixty-one
(8) When writing fractions in full.
- four-fifths
- two-thirds
- anti-aircraft
- cooperate
Hyphens Are Not Meant to be Used for Ranges
Hyphens are not meant to be used for ranges (e.g., 12-14, 2001- 2010). Dashes are used for this purpose. However, given that the hyphen is so easy to find on a keyboard, hyphens have become acceptable for ranges. Only a very strict grammar pedant would pull you up for using hyphens. If this were to happen, you could make a good case for the pedant being out of date.Read about dashes between numbers.
Help Us To Improve Grammar Monster
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
Next lesson >