Hyphen use While we said above that the em dash, also called the “common dash,” is the most common of the true dashes, hyphens show up more frequently in text.

The character most often used to represent a hyphen (and the one produced by the key on a keyboard) is called the "hyphen-minus" in the Unicode specification because it is also used as a minus sign. …

Jan 16, 2024 · But when you’re not sure whether a compound word should have a hyphen or not, check a dictionary or style guide. Hyphenated words tend to become closed compounds (single words with …

Mar 6, 2025 · A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark used to join two or more words or parts of words together. It helps clarify the meaning of compound terms, word breaks, and numbers.

Mar 11, 2022 · In writing, we use a lot of compound words. Compound words include nouns like president-elect and sister-in-law, verbs like back-paddle and flash-freeze, and adjectives like best …

Video gamer is clear without a hyphen, although some writers might prefer to hyphenate it. Writers using familiar compound verbs and nouns should consult a dictionary or look online to decide if these verbs …

Jul 10, 2025 · A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that connects two or more words together to form a single compound word or to link related words. It is distinct from other similar-looking marks like the …

The hyphen appears after the first compound, regardless if the compound normally has a hyphen. A hyphen occurs in the main compound only if it would normally be hyphenated.

Nov 12, 2025 · The hyphen’s lineage is traced to a punctuation mark created by Dionysius Thrax, a Classical Greek grammarian who flourished in the late Hellenistic period when literary criticism and …

Mar 15, 2025 · In this guide, we’ll explore how to use hyphens correctly, see examples of hyphen usage, and answer common questions about these helpful punctuation marks. What is a Hyphen?