Difference between revisions of "Language/English/Grammar/The-Hyphen-and-The-Dash"
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Don’t confuse the hyphen (-) for the dash (–) | |||
<div style="font-size:300%;">Don’t confuse the hyphen (-) for the dash (–)</div> | |||
There’s a pair of punctuation marks in English that are frequently misused or unused. This is due to the fact that the proper use of these marks must be understood properly. The punctuation marks in question are the hyphen and the dash. | There’s a pair of punctuation marks in English that are frequently misused or unused. This is due to the fact that the proper use of these marks must be understood properly. The punctuation marks in question are the hyphen and the dash. | ||
Definitions | ==Definitions== | ||
The hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that is used for various purposes which include: connecting words, writing compound numbers, dividing words into syllables, etc. | The hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that is used for various purposes which include: connecting words, writing compound numbers, dividing words into syllables, etc. | ||
On the other hand, the dash (according to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary) is a punctuation mark used to show a break in thought or in structure of a sentence. | On the other hand, the dash (according to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary) is a punctuation mark used to show a break in thought or in structure of a sentence. | ||
How to write the hyphen (-) | ==How to write the hyphen (-)== | ||
The hyphen is written as a very short horizontal line (-) at the middle of the height of the lowercase letters in a text. Example: multi-purpose. The hyphen is much shorter than the dash. | The hyphen is written as a very short horizontal line (-) at the middle of the height of the lowercase letters in a text. Example: multi-purpose. The hyphen is much shorter than the dash. | ||
How to write the dash (–) | ==How to write the dash (–)== | ||
The dash is written as a short horizontal line (–) at the middle of the height of the lowercase letters in a text. The dash is much longer than the hyphen. It is nearly three times the size of the hyphen. | The dash is written as a short horizontal line (–) at the middle of the height of the lowercase letters in a text. The dash is much longer than the hyphen. It is nearly three times the size of the hyphen. | ||
From the above, it is clear that the dash and the hyphen can be easily told apart. | From the above, it is clear that the dash and the hyphen can be easily told apart. | ||
Use of the hyphen (-) | ==Use of the hyphen (-)== | ||
The hyphen is used in some cases to add a prefix to a word: co-debaters, ex-wife, etc. | The hyphen is used in some cases to add a prefix to a word: co-debaters, ex-wife, etc. | ||
Note: Words which have their prefixes attached using a hyphen must always be written with the hyphen. | Note: Words which have their prefixes attached using a hyphen must always be written with the hyphen. | ||
Revision as of 11:16, 13 February 2019
There’s a pair of punctuation marks in English that are frequently misused or unused. This is due to the fact that the proper use of these marks must be understood properly. The punctuation marks in question are the hyphen and the dash.
Definitions
The hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that is used for various purposes which include: connecting words, writing compound numbers, dividing words into syllables, etc. On the other hand, the dash (according to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary) is a punctuation mark used to show a break in thought or in structure of a sentence.
How to write the hyphen (-)
The hyphen is written as a very short horizontal line (-) at the middle of the height of the lowercase letters in a text. Example: multi-purpose. The hyphen is much shorter than the dash.
How to write the dash (–)
The dash is written as a short horizontal line (–) at the middle of the height of the lowercase letters in a text. The dash is much longer than the hyphen. It is nearly three times the size of the hyphen. From the above, it is clear that the dash and the hyphen can be easily told apart.
Use of the hyphen (-)
The hyphen is used in some cases to add a prefix to a word: co-debaters, ex-wife, etc. Note: Words which have their prefixes attached using a hyphen must always be written with the hyphen.