Introduction - Better punctuation
In this article, I will explain the use of the punctuation mark, the ‘hyphen’ ( - ).
By applying hyphens correctly, you will improve your English writing.
Rules for its use
There are some rules associated with its use.
Use a hyphen:
with some compound nouns. Compound means ‘more than one part’.
These examples, which are all compound nouns, always need a hyphen:
mother-in-law
father-in-law
brother-in-law
sister-in-law
commander-in-chief
show-off
Use a hyphen:
When you write the complete words for compound numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine.
thirty-six
seventy-four
ninety-eight
 Use a hyphen:
after some prefixes such as 'ex-', 'mid-', or 'self-'
ex-wife,
ex-husband
mid-December
mid-summer
self-control
self-serve
self-assured
 Use a hyphen Â
whenever you use a compound adjective before a noun. The compound adjective has to express a single thought/idea.
well-known actor
one-way street
twenty-year-old man
seventy-year-old woman
 Do not use a hyphenÂ
 if the compound adjective appears elsewhere in the sentence.
The actor is well known.
The street is one way only.
She is seventy years old.
Some compound adjectives never take a hyphen, even when used before a noun.
We call these non-hyphenated compound adjectives.
Here are some examples:
High school
senior student
World Wide Web
real estate agent
Conclusion
In this article, I have explained the hyphen.
I hope it has been useful for you to help you get better English punctuation. And to write better English sentences.
Further Reading
If you haven't already, read this article on why learning to use punctuation marks is so important to your overall English proficiency.
© Apex English Tutoring Feb 2021 - updated Jan 2024
About Me
Hello and welcome!
My name is Michael Finemore and I am the owner-operator of Apex English Tutoring.
As an experienced English Teacher, I'm passionate about helping people turn their 'poor' English into great English, with easy and effective ways to practice.
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