Hyphens Dashes

Mr. Lee suits the job he has more experience than everybody else - in the department.

Mr. Lee suits the job—he has more experience than everybody else in the department.

Mr. Lee suits - the job - he has more experience than everybody else in the department.

There are fewer
Italian-American communities these days.

There are fewer
Italian—American communities these days.

no change

She has stopped buying
2—liter bottles and has started buying 0.5—liter bottles, instead.

She has stopped buying 2-liter bottles and has started buying 0.5-liter bottles, instead.

no change

CMS—a school with a great reputation—follows a different schedule than other schools in Portola Valley.

CMS - a school with a great reputation - follows a different schedule than other schools in Portola Valley.

no change

Ladera-a neighborhood in Portola Valley-is the place she calls home.

Ladera—a neighborhood in Portola Valley—is the place she calls home.

no change

He-who-shall-not-be-named is coming up the stairs.

He who shall not be named — is coming up the stairs.

He — who — shall — not — be —named is coming up the stairs.

no change

twelve year old

twelve-year, old

twelve year-old

twelve-year-old

yes, keep the hyphen

no, delete the hyphen

There was only one thing to do: surrender—immediately no, keep fighting!

There was only one thing to do: surrender immediately no—keep fighting!

There was only one thing to do: surrender immediately—no keep fighting!

no change

correct

incorrect

Mr. Jones -->
Mr.-Jones

eighty three -->
eighty-three

eighty three years -->

eighty-three-years

years old -->

years-old

parenthesis

comma

hyphen

dash

comma

hyphen

dash