Hyphen: meaning, definitions and examples

punctuation

A hyphen is a punctuation mark used to join words together or to separate syllables of a single word. It is shorter than a dash and is often used in compound words, phone numbers, and certain prefixes.

connector, dash, minus.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
hyphen	Again, specifically used to join words together in compound terms or to show that a word has been split at the end of a line. father-in-law, check-in, re-examine
dash	Used in writing to indicate a break in the sentence, a pause, or to separate related ideas. It can also be used to add emphasis or an additional thought. She was running late – as usual They will come at 5 PM – if they can make it
minus	Typically used in mathematics to indicate subtraction. It can also informally indicate something is lacking or missing. 5 minus 3 equals 2 The party was fun, minus the loud music
connector	Generally used to refer to something that connects or links elements together. In some contexts, it can also refer to punctuation marks like hyphens or dashes, but it is more broadly applicable. The internet as a connector of global communities Use a connector to join the cables

Examples of usage

• The word 'mother-in-law' is hyphenated to show that it is a compound word.

• The phone number is written with hyphens between the digits.

• The prefix 'pre-' is often followed by a hyphen when used in a word.

typography

In typography, a hyphen is a small horizontal line used to indicate a break in a word at the end of a line. It helps to maintain consistent spacing and improve readability in printed text.

Examples of usage

• The typesetter added a hyphen at the end of the line to break the word correctly.

• Hyphens are important in typography to avoid awkward line breaks.

action

To hyphenate means to add a hyphen to a word to show how it is divided into syllables or to join it with another word. Hyphenating words correctly is important for clarity and proper grammar.

Examples of usage

• Make sure to hyphenate compound words when writing formal documents.

• The editor will hyphenate the last word to fit it on the line.