Posted: October 24, 2023

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Definition: a punctuation mark (-), used to join words to indicate that they have a combined meaning or that they are linked in the grammar of a sentence (as in pick-me-up, rock-forming), to indicate the division of a word at the end of a line, or to indicate a missing or implied element (as in short- and long-term).

Note: Do not rely on grammar or spelling checkers to identify missing or misused punctuation. Although a checker may flag possibly missing or incorrect marks, it cannot do much else. While I still recommend using these AI checkers while you’re writing, I insist that you also trust a qualified human being to copyedit any work that you are working toward publishing.

The main use of a hyphen is syllabication (for proofreaders), but another use is for compound words. It may also be used for number ranges in place of en-dashes.

Note: The hyphen may be used differently (whether you hyphenate compound adjectives or not) depending on the dictionary used while writing. For further information, check the specific rules for your region.

[Related Article: Dashes (not yet available)]

In Compound Words:

Use a hyphen to combine linked adjectives or compound nouns.

• e.g. The wholistic cruelty-free grass-fed dairy farm was short-handed after a sudden record-breaking surge in demand.

In Ranges:

While number and date ranges are normally written with an en-dash, a hyphen may be used instead.

• e.g. Read pages 5-14 for more information.
• e.g. Queen Elizabeth II (April 1926 - September 2022) was the longest reigning queen in England’s history.

With Other Punctuation:

Because a hyphen is used internally, no other punctuation is used with it.

For further information, see my other Punctuation articles:

Sources:

Aaron, J.E. & Morrison, A. The Little, Brown Compact Handbook, 5th Canadian ed. Pearson, 2013, chap 5
Judd, K. Copyediting, A Practical Guide, 3rd ed. California, CA: Crisp Learning, 2001, chap 4