How important is the hyphen? Let’s look at these two sentences:

♦ Example: We found a small‑business grant.
♦ Example: We found a small business grant.

The first means the grant helps small businesses.

The second sounds like the grant is small, not the business.

One hyphen can totally change what you’re saying. That’s why it’s important to understand how to use it.

What Is a Hyphen?

A hyphen is a tiny horizontal line ( – ) that joins words or parts of words. Think of a hyphen as glue: it sticks things together.

Hyphen = Join

The hyphen stays inside words.
♦ Example: Mother-in-law
♦ Example: Well-known author

Hyphens help with clarity
♦ Example: re‑sign (sign again) vs. resign (quit)

Related Reading: Simple Tips to Perfect Your Punctuation 

What is a Dash?

A dash is not a hyphen, though they are often confused. Hyphens are joiners and dashes are separators. There are two main types of dashes. An em dash (—) adds drama or inserts side thoughts. The en dash (–) slips between items that hold equal weight or show movement from A to B.

How to Use the Hyphen

Now that we know what a hyphen is, let’s see how we use it.

Compound Words

Some words grow from two smaller words:

Closed compounds (stick together)
Closed compounds are one word, no spaces or hyphens. The individual parts of the word have become one over time.

♦ Example: notebook, basketball

Open compounds (stay apart)
Open compounds are two (or more) separate words, written with a space between them. The words work together as one idea, but they stay apart on the page.

♦ Example: ice cream, post office

Hyphenated compounds
Two (or more) words glued together with a hyphen to act as one idea. Hyphens show words that go together, making things clearer.

♦ Example: sister‑in‑law, runner‑up

Suspended compounds
A suspended compound is a shortcut that keeps you from repeating the same ending word in a series. You keep the first part, add a hyphen, skip the repeated ending, then write the final full term. It saves space and avoids clunky repetition while still staying clear.

♦ Example: ten‑ to twelve‑year‑olds

Compound Modifiers Before a Noun

When two or more words team up to describe a noun, you glue them with a hyphen.

♦ Example: A well‑known author
♦ Example: A sugar‑free candy

Proper nouns

Hyphens work with proper nouns, too.

♦ Example: Los Angeles‑based studio

Exception: Skip the hyphen if the first word ends in ‑ly.

♦ Example: A widely read novel (no hyphen)

Prefixes and Suffixes

Use a hyphen after certain prefixes to avoid confusion.

Word Breaks at Line Ends

Use the hyphen when a word must be divided at the end of a line. Your word processor should handle hyphens at the end of lines, but you can customize the settings.

Fractions and Numbers

Use hyphens in numbers like twenty-one to ninety-nine.

♦ Example: Twenty‑one students

Related Reading: Why The Period Is So Important 

Common Mistakes

Common slip-ups to avoid with the hyphens.

Using Two Hyphens

Many people mistakenly use two hyphens instead of a dash.

♦ Example: Wrong: Wait–what?
♦ Example: Right: Wait—what?

Missing Hyphens

Many people forget to use hyphens in compound modifiers.

♦ Example: Wrong: high quality shoes
♦ Example: Right: high‑quality shoes

Using with -Ly Words

As previously mentioned, you shouldn’t hyphenate after adverbs ending in “-ly,” as previously explained.

♦ Example: Wrong: nicely‑made dress
♦ Example: Right: nicely made dress

Using as a Minus Sign

A hyphen is sometimes used in place of a minus sign in mathematical notation.

♦ Example: Wrong: 6 – 2 = 4 (looks okay in plain text but using a proper minus sign is good practice)

Related Reading: Mastering the Colon: A Simple Guide

Style Guides

Most style guides, including APA, Chicago, and MLA, agree on hyphenating clear compound modifiers.

Chicago & MLA: Drop the hyphen after e‑ words once they become common (email).
APA: Keep prefixes closed unless confusion appears (reanalysis).

It is important to pick a style and stay with it instead of switching styles mid-document.

The Merriam‑Webster Online Dictionary is quickest way to confirm hyphens.

Punctuation Exercises

In the following sentences, add hyphens where they belong

1. The five star restaurant served amazing soup.
2. Mia adopted a high energy puppy.
3. We saw a well known actor at the café.
4. Please re enter your password.
5. The judge needed a ten page report.
6. He bought a child friendly tablet.
7. The ice cream melted quickly in the summer heat.
8. Carla earned a part time job after school.
9. They planned a last minute trip.
10. The movie is family friendly but action packed.

Key Takeaways

1. Hyphen: Used to glue compound words together.
2. Hyphenated compound: Used to glue two (or more) words together with a hyphen (to act as one idea)
3. Suspended compounds: A hyphen avoid repeating the last word in a series.
4. Prefixes and Suffixes: Use a hyphen after certain prefixes to avoid confusion
5. Words ending in ly: Skip the hyphen if the first word ends in ‑ly.

Last Words on Hyphens

Now you know the hyphen’s superpowers. Glue the words that belong together, free the ones that don’t, and watch your writing grow clearer.

Happy writing!

Linda

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