HYPHENS (-)
Hyphens split words at the end of a line when you handwrite. They also join words. Here are some rules for using hyphens:
- Use a hyphen with compound numbers from twenty-one to ninenty-nine and with fractions used as adjectives.
Example: fourty-four. a two-thirds majority
- Use a hyphen with prefixes ex-, self-, and all-, with the suffix -elect, and with all prefixes before a proper noun or proper adjective.
Example: self-control, ex-president, all-American, mid-December, secretary-elect
- Hyphenate a compound adjective when it precedes the noun it modifies. Do not use a hyphen if one of the modifiers is an adverb ending in -ly.
Example: a well-organized school trip, an after-school job, a desperately rash move
- Use a hyphen with compound numbers from twenty-one to ninenty-nine and with fractions used as adjectives.
Example: fourty-four. a two-thirds majority
- Use a hyphen with prefixes ex-, self-, and all-, with the suffix -elect, and with all prefixes before a proper noun or proper adjective.
Example: self-control, ex-president, all-American, mid-December, secretary-elect
- Hyphenate a compound adjective when it precedes the noun it modifies. Do not use a hyphen if one of the modifiers is an adverb ending in -ly.
Example: a well-organized school trip, an after-school job, a desperately rash move
DASHES (—)
Dashes indicate a break in thought (a strong one). They are also used in pairs within sentences. Similar to parentheses, dashes can be used to elaborate on an idea within a sentence, but unlike parentheses, the words within the pair of dashes are emphasized.
Ex: I have seen Taylor Swift — one of the greatest artists around — in concert three times!
Ex: I have seen Taylor Swift — one of the greatest artists around — in concert three times!