HYPHENS

• 1) When 2+ adjectives function as a single adjective, they are hyphenated to demonstrate this singular purpose.

  • In effect, the words are sewn together, which is appropriate since hyphens resemble stitches. 

    • The second-baseman, after making a miraculous catch, had a look-what-I-found expression on her face.

      • *It was NOT a look expression, NOT a what expression, NOT a I expression, and NOT a found expression; rather, the adjective modifying the noun “expression” was look-what-I-found.

    • The six-year-old horse was put out to stud.

      • *Use NO hyphens as a NOUN:  The six year old was a former Derby winner.

    • The teenager made a moment-of-truth decision at the party.

    • Along with a nineteen-inch television, the robber stole a computer and a microwave.
       

• 2) Use a hyphen when you use the suffix “-like.”

  • The right winger moved with cat-like agility on the ice.

    • *It was NOT cat agility, NOT like agility, but cat-like agility.

    • *Stylistically, a dedicated writer will often avoid such usage, searching instead for a proper adjective:

      • "feline" in this instance

      • For a list of animal adjectives, click here.
         

• 3) Use a hyphen when you use the prefix "self-."

  • Vernon's self-confident smile vanished when he was rejected by Vera.

  • "No self-respecting atheist believes in God," quipped Stan.

  • The self-appointed leader, lacking self-awareness and self-analysis, failed to see the self-explanatory irony in her self-aggrandizing argument for self-government.
     

• 4) Use a hyphen when you use “-time.”

  • Monica is a part-time college student and a full-time mother.

• 1) twenty-five, seventy-nine

• 2) “two thirds” is NOT hyphenated when it is a NOUN; however, it is hyphenated when it is an ADJECTIVE.

  • Two thirds of the class failed the grammar test.

  • A two-thirds majority is required to pass the resolution.

• 1) Use a hyphen with the following prefixes:

  • ex-wife, ex-boyfriend

  • self-mutilation, self-confidence

  • mid-semester, mid-winter

  • pre-Raphaelite, pre-Reformation

  • pro-Life, pro-Choice, pro-reform

    • (*"pro-" = "in favor of, for")

• 2) Use a hyphen with other prefixes to avoid confusion, especially when the result would be another word:

  • re-evaluate

    • (too many e’s)

  • re-mark, re-form

    • (both “remark” and “reform” are words with different meanings than the hyphenated sense)

• 3) Use a hyphen with the following suffixes:

  • senator-elect, councilwoman-elect

  • part-time, full-time, all-time, 4-time

  • vulture-like (vulturine), life-like (realistic), child-like (childish)

    • under the Stylistic Errors page, we'll discuss how the words above in blue are more appropriate

DASHES

• TYPING:
  • Formed by typing 2 hyphens; most word-processing programs will automatically make one long line when you are typing. 
  • The dash touches both words, the last letter of the first word and the first letter of the next word.
• FUNCTION:
  • Use a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought.
    • Quote from any horror movie: "I thought I heard a noise down—"
  • Use a dash to set off parenthetical material, much like COMMAS and PARENTHESES.
    • Richard Gere—who has made a career of playing practically the same character in every
      movie—just appeared on Oprah's show to push his latest project.
  • Use a dash to mean “namely” or “in other words” or “that is.”
    • Andy Pettitte’s decision to leave the New York Yankees was based on a single motive—he wanted to be closer to his family.