hyphen Definition
hyphen
noun
- 1. A punctuation mark (-) used to join two words to form a compound (eg, booby-trap, double-barrelled) or, in texts, to split a word between the end of one line and the beginning of the next.
- hyphened, hyphening
1. To hyphenate.
Info:
- A hyphen should be used for
- 1. linking words
- ○ It links elements of a multi-word phrase that describes a following noun &wbox; &wbox; &wbox; &wbox; . Note that hyphens are not normally needed when the phrase describes a preceding noun, as in &wbox; , although where there is an intervening modifying adverb, hyphens are usually retained, as in &wbox; .
- ○ It links elements of a multi-word phrase that functions as a noun &wbox; &wbox; &wbox; &wbox; .
- ○ It links elements of a multi-word phrase that has a suffix added to make it function as a single unit &wbox; &wbox; .
- ○ It links elements of numbers from 21 to 99, and elements of fractions &wbox; &wbox; .
- ○ It links elements of a two-word adjective that describes a following noun &wbox; &wbox; &wbox; &wbox; &wbox; . Note that there are categories of two-word adjectives that retain their hyphens when they describe a preceding noun: (1) a combination of adjective + participle, or word ending in , as in and ; (2) a combination of adjective + noun, as in ; (3) a combination of noun + adjective, as in .Note that adverbs ending in -ly are not linked to a following word, except in cases where the two are felt to function as a single unit of meaning, so , but .links elements of nouns formed from phrasal verbs &wbox; , , &wbox; .
- ○ It links elements of adjectives formed from phrasal verbs when the adjective describes a following noun &wbox; &wbox; .
- 2. splitting words
- ○ A hyphen marks a break in a word at the end of a line of print, where part of the word has been taken over to the next line. Take care to split the word into logical or unambiguous units: , not ; , not ; and, , not .
- ○ It marks a break in a word whose second element is implied but not shown, as in .
