Hyphen: The Ultimate Guide to Proper Hyphenation in English - English Study Online (2024)

Hyphens are an important part of the English language, but they can be confusing for learners. In this article, we will cover the basic rules for using hyphens in English, including when to use them in compound words, prefixes, and suffixes, as well as some common exceptions to these rules. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of how to use hyphens correctly and effectively in your English writing, helping you to communicate more clearly and confidently with others.

Understanding Hyphens

Hyphens are punctuation marks that are used to connect words or parts of words. They are different from other punctuation marks like dashes and underscores.

In English, hyphens are commonly used in compound words and to join words that form a single idea.

• For example, “well-known” is a compound word that is hyphenated because it is formed by joining two words that describe a single concept.
• Another example is “self-esteem,” where the hyphen is used to join the two words that form a single idea.

Hyphens are also used to clarify the meaning of a sentence.

• For instance, consider the sentence “I re-covered the couch.”

Without the hyphen, it would be unclear whether the writer meant that they covered the couch again or that they covered it with something new. By adding a hyphen, the writer clarifies that they covered the couch again.

It is important to note that not all compound words require hyphens. Some compound words are written as a single word, while others are written as separate words without hyphens. The general rule is to hyphenate compound words when they are used as adjectives before a noun. For example, “a well-written book” requires a hyphen because “well-written” is a compound adjective that describes the noun “book.”

When to Use a Hyphen

Hyphens are essential punctuation marks that help to clarify the meaning of words and phrases. Here are some instances when you should use a hyphen:

Compound words: When two or more words are combined to form a new word, a hyphen is usually used to connect them.

• For example, “self-esteem,” “mother-in-law,” “well-being,” “co-worker,” etc.

Prefixes and suffixes: When a prefix or suffix is added to a word, a hyphen is used to connect them.

• For example, “pre-owned,” “anti-inflammatory,” “child-proof,” etc.

Numbers and fractions: When numbers and fractions are spelled out, a hyphen is used to connect them.

• For example, “twenty-one,” “two-thirds,” etc.

Compound modifiers: When two or more words are used together to modify a noun, a hyphen is used to connect them.

• For example, “high-speed train,” “blue-eyed boy,” “long-term plan,” etc.

Hyphenated words: When a word is already hyphenated, you should maintain the hyphenation.

• For example, “mother-in-law,” “co-founder,” etc.

It is important to note that not all compound words require a hyphen. Some compound words are written as one word, while others are written as separate words. It is always best to consult a dictionary to determine the proper spelling of a compound word.

In addition, it is important to use hyphens correctly to avoid confusion and ambiguity.

• For example, “small business owner” and “small-business owner” have different meanings. In the first example, the owner of the business is small, while in the second example, the business itself is small.

Hyphens in Compound Words

In English, compound words are formed by combining two or more words to create a new word with a distinct meaning. Hyphens are often used to join these words together, especially when they are used as compound adjectives or compound nouns.

Forming Compound Adjectives

When we combine two or more words to modify a noun, we create a compound adjective. For example, “well-made” is a compound adjective that describes a product that is of good quality. Here are some general rules for forming compound adjectives with hyphens:

• Use a hyphen when the compound adjective comes before the noun it modifies, such as “high-impact advertisem*nt” or “long-term goal.”
• Do not use a hyphen when the compound adjective comes after the noun it modifies, such as “the advertisem*nt was high impact” or “the goal was long term.”
• Use a hyphen to avoid ambiguity or confusion, such as “small-business owner” to distinguish from a “small business owner.”

Forming Compound Nouns

When we combine two or more words to create a new noun, we create a compound noun. For example, “washing machine” is a compound noun that refers to a machine for washing clothes. Here are some general rules for forming compound nouns with hyphens:

• Use a hyphen when the compound noun is made up of two or more words that are not normally used together, such as “mother-in-law” or “attorney-at-law.”
• Do not use a hyphen when the compound noun is made up of two or more words that are commonly used together, such as “school bus” or “coffee mug.”
• Use a hyphen to avoid ambiguity or confusion, such as “man-eating shark” to distinguish from a “man eating shark.”

Overall, hyphens are an important tool for creating clear and concise compound words in English. By following these guidelines, we can ensure that our writing is easy to read and understand for all readers.

Hyphens with Prefixes and Suffixes

When it comes to using hyphens with prefixes and suffixes, things can get confusing. Here, we’ll cover the basics of using hyphens with prefixes and suffixes to help you improve your writing.

Prefixes and Hyphens

Hyphens are commonly used with prefixes to avoid ambiguity and clarify meaning. A prefix is a word part that is added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. Here are some common prefixes that require a hyphen:

Note that if the prefix ends with a vowel and the root word begins with a vowel, you typically don’t need a hyphen. For example, “cooperate” and “semiannual” don’t require hyphens.

Suffixes and Hyphens

Suffixes are word parts that are added to the end of a word to change its meaning. Here are some common suffixes that require a hyphen:

Note that some suffixes, such as -ly and -ment, never require a hyphen.

Hyphens in Numbers and Ages

When writing in English, it is important to use hyphens correctly to convey meaning accurately. This is especially true when writing numbers and ages. In this section, we will discuss when to use hyphens in numbers and ages.

Hyphenating Numbers

Hyphens are used in numbers to connect two or more words that work together to describe a noun. For example, “a five-foot table” or “a six-inch ruler.” Here are some general rules to follow when using hyphens with numbers:

• Use a hyphen when the number is used as an adjective before a noun, such as “a five-year plan.”
• Do not use a hyphen when the number is used as a noun, such as “the plan is for five years.”

Hyphenating Ages

Hyphens are also used in ages to connect two or more words that work together to describe a noun. For example, “a twenty-year-old student” or “a five-year-old child.” Here are some general rules to follow when using hyphens with ages:

• Use a hyphen when the age is used as an adjective before a noun, such as “a ten-year-old dog.”
• Do not use a hyphen when the age is used as a noun, such as “the dog is ten years old.”

It’s important to note that there are different ways to write ages depending on the context. Here are some examples:

• A twenty-year-old woman won the race. (compound adjective)
• The winner of the race is twenty years old. (predicate adjective)
• She is a woman in her mid-twenties. (no hyphen)

Practice Exercise with Answers

Now that we have learned about the usage of hyphens, let’s put our knowledge into practice. Here are a few exercises with answers to help you understand how to use hyphens correctly.

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct hyphenated word:

• The ___________ process is used to join two words together.
• She is a ___________ year old girl.
• The ___________ related forms need to be filled out.
• He rode his ___________ bike to work.

Answers:

• The hyphenation process is used to join two words together.
• She is a three-year-old girl.
• The business-related forms need to be filled out.
• He rode his two-wheeled bike to work.

2. Choose the correct sentence with hyphens:

• A) The well known actor was in the movie.
• B) The well-known actor was in the movie.

Answer:

• B) The well-known actor was in the movie.

3. Choose the correct sentence with hyphens:

• A) The small business owner was struggling.
• B) The small-business owner was struggling.

Answer:

• B) The small-business owner was struggling.

Remember, the use of hyphens can change the meaning of a sentence. It is important to use them correctly to avoid confusion. Keep practicing and you’ll become a pro at using hyphens in no time!

Related:

• Period/Full Stop (.)
• Comma (,)
• Semicolon (;)
• Colon (:)
• Question Mark (?)
• Exclamation Mark/Point (!)
• Quotation Marks (” “)