HYPHENS AND

DASHES
By Haley Adams and Niki Voulgaris
Differences between Hyphens and Dashes
Hyphens-
• Shorter in length
• Connect word parts
• Used to make compound
numbers
• Avoid awkward letter
combinations
• Join prefixes, suffixes and
noun phrases
Dashes–
• Double in length (when typing
put two hyphens together to
make a dash)
• Indicates a break or
interruption in thought
• Used as substitute for small
phrases
• Used a substitute for
parentheses and commas
Hyphens
•Join two or more words, serving as a single
adjective BEFORE the noun.
• Ex: well-known author Ex: Chocolate-covered peanuts

•After the noun the compounds are NOT

hyphenated
• Ex: The author is well known Ex: The peanuts were chocolate
covered
Hyphens
•Used for compound numbers
• Ex: thirty-two, twenty-four

•To avoid awkward combination of letters

• Ex: re-sign the petition (vs. resign from office)
Hyphens
•Used with most prefixes to avoid making a
compound
• Ex: ex-husband, anti-American, pre-civil war

• Used with letters and the suffix “elect”

• Ex: T-shirt Ex: mayor-elect

• Used to complete a noun phrase

• Ex: on-the-fly, out-of-date
Dashes
•Used to indicate an interruption
• Ex: My mom started to yell “What’s wrong with—” when my dad began
calling for her.
Dashes
•Used as a substitute for “it is” and “they
are” and other small phrases
•After the dash shows emphases.
• Ex: Jenny got a new kitten it is a Calico.
• Ex: Jenny got a new kitten– a Calico.
Dashes
•Used as a substitute for parentheses and
commas.
• Ex: I think dogs are better than cats (they come when you call, and are
a mans best friend) but my mom still won’t budge and get us a dog.
• Ex: I think dogs are better than cats– they come when you call, and are
a mans best friend– but my mom still won’t budge and get us a dog.