Hyphens

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)