What are hyphens?

​A hyphen is a short line that connects words.

It helps make your writing more precise.

Hyphens make your writing more clear.

The most-loved menu items are on the back.
The most loved menu items are on the back.

What is the difference in meaning?

Rule 1: hyphenate compound adjectives

Compound adjectives are 2 or more words that work together to describe something.

• well-known singer

• bright-blue sky

• six-year-old child

After the noun, no hyphen

• Use a hyphen when words describe something before a noun

• Remove the hyphen when the description comes after the noun

• Examples:

• * A well-known artist (before the noun)

• * The artist is well known. (after the noun)

Rule 2: Use hyphens with number descriptions

Examples:

• two-story building

• five-minute break

• twenty-three students

Rule 3: prefixes

Use a hyphen when the prefix comes before:

• proper noun

• numbers

• dates

Examples:

• anti-American

• pre-1990

• mid-July

Rule 3: prefixes

Certain prefixes require a hyphen:

• self-

• all-

• ex-

• semi-

Examples:

• self-reliance

• all-inclusive

• ex-wife

• semi-colon

Rule 3: other prefixes only use to avoid confusion

prevents awkward combinations:

- re-sign (to sign again) vs. resign (to quit)

- re-create (create again) vs. recreate (have fun)

Rule 4: special cases

Such as repeated letters or unusual combinations:

• shell-like

• bee-eater

• co-op