Kötjelekhez

Kötjelekhez is a term used in typography to refer to the set of punctuation marks that connect elements within text, most commonly the kötőjel (hyphen) and related dash symbols. The term encompasses marks that function as connectors in written language, whether between parts of a word or between adjacent words.

The most familiar member is the hyphen, used to form compound words and to join prefixes to stems in certain contexts. Hyphens also appear in line breaks to split a word at syllable boundaries. In addition to the hyphen, dash marks such as the longer dash variants serve different functions: a dash may set off an abrupt remark or parenthetical thought, and another form is used to indicate ranges or connections between related items. While the hyphen remains close to the word level, dashes operate at a higher level to structure a sentence or link concepts.

In Hungarian orthography, kötjelekhez follows specific rules about when and how to apply these marks. Hyphenation rules determine where a word may be split at line ends, and hyphens are typically not inserted to separate morphemes within a simple word unless required by clarity or standard compounds. Dashes have conventions regarding spacing and punctuation—with some styles preferring no spaces around the dash and others allowing spaces to emphasize the break. The precise usage can vary by publishing house, font, and typographic tradition, but the general function remains to connect or to highlight relational or structural elements within text.

In digital typography, these marks are encoded in Unicode and input via standard keyboard layouts, with font choice influencing appearance and readability.