bindestreg

Bindestreg, commonly known as the hyphen in Danish, is the punctuation mark - used in writing to join words or to divide a word at the end of a line. The name bindestreg is Danish for "binding stroke" and reflects its function of tying elements together.

Functions: The primary uses are to form or clarify compounds or prefixed terms, where a hyphen may be used to improve readability or to prevent misreading, though many Danish compounds are written as a single word without a hyphen. It also marks line breaks by hyphenating a word at the end of a line. In modern typography, hyphenation rules govern where breaks occur, and a soft hyphen indicates a possible break without a visible hyphen unless the break actually happens. In certain stylistic or typographic contexts, such as brand names, loanwords, or specialized terms, a hyphen is used for readability or to avoid ambiguity.

Relation to other punctuation: The bindestreg is distinct from the en dash (–) and the em dash (—). The hyphen is short and primarily used for linking or word division, whereas en dashes are used for ranges and relationships and em dashes for breaks or interruptions.

Historical usage: The hyphen has been part of Danish punctuation for many centuries, with usage shaped by spelling reforms and typographic style guides. Modern practice tends to minimize hyphenation in everyday writing, reserving hyphens for word formation, readability, and line-breaking rules rather than as a frequent orthographic device.

Soft bindestreg: The soft hyphen (blød bindestreg) is a control character indicating a potential hyphenation point in digital text; it is not visible unless a break occurs.