Transcript Hyphens - Freeport Area School District

HYPHENS AND DASHES
Hyphens
1. Use a hyphen to divide a word at the end of a line.
Example: What percentage of U.S. households have subscribed to cable television?
Divide a word only between syllables.
Do not divide a one syllable word.
Divide an already hyphenated word at a hyphen
Do not divide a word so that one letter stands
alone.
Hyphens
2. Use a hyphen with compound numbers from twentyone to ninety-nine and with fractions used as
modifiers.
Thirty-five students
Forty-eighth state
One-third pint of milk.
NOTE: When a fraction is a noun, do not use a
hyphen (one third of a pint)
Hyphens
3. Use a hyphen with the prefixes all-, ex-, great-, selfand with the suffixes –elect and –free and with all
prefixes before a proper noun or proper adjective.
all-star
president-elect
ex-principal
sugar-free
great-aunt
mid-September
self-confidence pro-American
Hyphens
4. Hyphenate a compound adjective when it precedes
the noun it modifies.
well-worn book
small-town girl
Dashes

Use a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought
or speech.
1.
2.
3.
Ms. Alonzo—she just left—will be one of the judges
at the talent show.
“Right over there—oh, excuse me, Mr. Mills—you’ll
find the reference books,” said the librarian.
Alisha began, “The burglar is—but I don’t want to
give away the ending.