punctuationhyphen

A hyphen is a punctuation mark used to connect words or parts of words. It is distinct from an en dash and an em dash, which are longer and have different uses. The hyphen typically has a length of about one-quarter to one-half of an em dash.

One common use of the hyphen is to create compound words. This can involve joining two or more words to form a single concept, such as in "well-being" or "mother-in-law." It is also used to form compound modifiers, where two or more words act together to describe a noun, as in "a brightly-lit room" or "a long-term project." However, the use of hyphens in compound modifiers can vary, and some style guides may omit them when the modifier follows the noun.

Hyphens are also employed to indicate a break in a word at the end of a line, a practice known as hyphenation. This is done to maintain even margins in typeset text. Additionally, hyphens can be used to clarify meaning, especially in cases where ambiguity might arise without them. For instance, "re-cover" (to cover again) is distinguished from "recover" (to regain health).

In some contexts, hyphens are used to form compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine. They also appear in certain prefixes and suffixes, although this usage can be less consistent and is often determined by specific style guides or historical conventions. The correct use of hyphens is crucial for clarity and readability in written English.