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Hyphens in English serve as a critical punctuation tool, uniting words to form compounds and ensuring clarity in writing. They are key in differentiating compound nouns, adjectives, and in the use of prefixes, as well as in numerical expressions like fractions and lists. Understanding the distinction between hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes is vital for precise language use and avoiding ambiguity in various contexts, including legal documents, technical writing, and creative literature.
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Hyphens are short dashes used to join words or parts of words, originating from the Greek word 'huphen' meaning 'together'
Compound Nouns
Hyphens are essential in creating compound nouns, such as 'mother-in-law', to form a cohesive unit
Compound Adjectives
Hyphens are crucial in forming compound adjectives, like 'high-speed chase', to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity
Modifying Compound Phrases
Hyphens are necessary in modifying compound phrases before a noun, such as 'state-of-the-art design', to convey a specific meaning
Hyphens are vital in prefixation to differentiate meanings and aid pronunciation, especially with prefixes that begin with a vowel or the same letter as the base word
Hyphens are used to spell out numbers twenty-one through ninety-nine and fractions in written text to ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretation
Hyphens are used in enumerations to link a series of related items to a common ending, enhancing readability and avoiding repetition
Hyphens are used to join words or syllables directly, while em dashes and en dashes serve different purposes in writing
Em dashes are longer than hyphens and are used to insert parenthetical thoughts or indicate a break in thought within a sentence
En dashes are slightly longer than hyphens and are used to indicate ranges, such as in page numbers or dates
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In English, a ______ ( - ) is used to connect words or parts of words, like in compound terms.
hyphen
01
The term 'hyphen' comes from the Greek word '______' which means 'together'.
huphen
02
Compound word examples with hyphens
'Check-in', 'dry-cleaning' - words joined by hyphens to form single concepts.
