hyphen

(noun)

The symbol "-", typically used to join two or more words to form a new word.

Related Terms

Examples of hyphen in the following topics:

  • Hyphens

    • Hyphens are often used to connect two words into a single term.
    • Hyphens ("-") connect two words to make a single word.
    • However, when the adverb ends with -ly, a hyphen should not be used.
    • It is not always necessary to use a hyphenated word.
    • Sentences can be rearranged to avoid the need for a hyphen.

  • Adverbs

    • Hyphens can be used to combine an adverb and adjective to describe a noun.
    • However, when the adverb ends with -ly, a hyphen should not be used.
    • If the hyphen was removed from any of these examples the phrase would take on a different meaning.
    • The hyphen is what makes sure that "best" describes "known" rather than "author."

  • Em-Dashes and En-Dashes

    • An exception to the use of en dashes is made, however, when combined with an already hyphenated compound.
    • Use a hyphen instead.

  • Adjectives

    • But other times, the adjectives combine to become one adjective joined by a hyphen.
    • As you can see, the hyphen completely changes the meaning of the phrase by combining two words into one.

  • Coercive Patriotism

    • Former president Theodore Roosevelt denounced "hyphenated Americanism", insisting that dual loyalties were impossible in wartime.

  • MLA: The Works Cited Section

    • List the page numbers of the article, followed by a period [note that the dash between the first and second numbers is an en-dash (–), not a hyphen (-) or em-dash (—)]:
    • Then, replace the author's name (or list of names) with three hyphens, followed by a period, for all but the first entry by that author:

  • Classification and Nomenclature

    • For bacteria, valid names must have a Latin or Neolatin name and can only use basic latin letters (w and j inclusive, see History of the Latin alphabet for these), consequently hyphens, accents and other letters are not accepted and should be translitterated correctly (e.g. ß=ss).

  • Gamma Rays

    • Gamma radiation, also known as gamma rays or hyphenated as gamma-rays and denoted as γ, is electromagnetic radiation of high frequency and therefore high energy.

  • Short-Term and Working Memory

    • For example, it is easier to remember a hyphenated phone number than a single long number because it is broken into three chunks instead of existing as ten digits.

  • Correctness

    • Misspellings cost $25 apiece; so did misused hyphens, commas, and periods.