How to Use Hyphens and Dashes

A refresher on the rules and applications of hyphens and dashes.

1. ‘Cause every girl crazy ‘bout a sharp - dressed man How to use hyphens and dashes ( - ) ( – ) ( — )

2. What are they? A hyphen looks like this: - An en dash looks like this: – An em dash looks like this: — Each of these punctuation marks has a different purpose.

3. Hyphens - Hyphens are typically used when writing compound modifiers compound nouns non-inclusive numbers

4. Hyphens - Hyphens form compound modifiers by joining two or more words to describe a noun: He is an awkward-looking guy. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. If the compound modifier is particularly long, you can use quotation marks instead: It’s a good do-it-yourself project. or It’s a good “do it yourself” project.

5. Hyphens - When a compound modifier is 2 words long and contains an adverb, don’t use a hyphen: We passed by a poorly dressed gentleman. If a compound modifier is longer and contains an adverb, use hyphens: Then we passed by a not-so-poorly-dressed gentleman.

6. Hyphens - When a compound modifier appears before the noun it modifies, use hyphens: I have a six-year-old kid. When the modifier appears after the noun, don’t use hyphens: My kid is six years old.

7. Hyphens - When multiple similar compound modifiers appear in a sentence, it’s often simplest to only complete one of them: Shop around for two-, three-, and four-acre lots. It’s clear that this means “two-acre, three-acre, and four-acre lots,” but writing it like this is repetitive. Hyphens help to smooth out the sentence.

8. Hyphens - Hyphens can also be used to form compound nouns . This generally helps to clear up a confusing sentence. Compound nouns can be hyphenated or made into one word: Hyphen : This is a great set-up you’ve got here. One word : This is a great setup you’ve got here. Verb phrases shouldn’t be hyphenated: Will you help me set up this TV?

9. Hyphens - Finally, hyphens are used when writing non-inclusive numbers, such as a phone number 867-5309 a credit card number 0000-1234-5678-9000 or a Social Security number 123-45-6789

10. En dashes – En dashes are typically used when writing about a range of numbers about connections and conflicts certain compound modifiers

11. En Dashes – En dashes are used to indicate a range of numbers: Tonight, read pages 23–57. An en dash cannot be used in place of “to” in a “from X to Y” phrase or in place of “and” in a “between X and Y” phrase: Tonight, read from page 23 to page 57. The French Revolution occurred between 1789 and 1799.

12. En Dashes – En dashes are also used to show connections between two things: I caught a New York–London flight last week. On the flip side, en dashes are used to show conflict or opposition: Stay tuned for the big Democrat–Republican debate.

13. En Dashes – Finally, en dashes are sometimes used for compound modifiers. If part of the modifier is a two-word phrase, an en dash is used instead of a hyphen: Hyphen : Meryl Streep is an award-winning actress. En dash : Meryl Streep is an Academy Award–winning actress. It can’t be written like this because “Academy Award” is one noun: Wrong : Meryl Streep is an Academy-Award-winning actress.

14. How To Format En Dashes – Most keyboards don’t have a key that does this. On a Windows computer, use the code ALT 0150. On a Mac, use ALT and the regular hyphen key. Two hyphens in a row (--) will autocorrect to an en dash in some word processors.

15. Em dashes — The em dash is the wildcard of punctuation. It can be used in place of commas parentheses colons semicolons (But not always.)

16. Em Dashes — An em dash can replace commas or parentheses around a parenthetical phrase: Commas : When you have time, if you don’t mind, can you run to the grocery store? Parentheses : When you have time (if you don’t mind) can you run to the grocery store? Em dashes : When you have time—if you don’t mind—can you run to the grocery store?

17. Em Dashes — An em dash can also be used in place of a colon within a sentence: Colon : After weeks of deliberation, the jury finally reached a verdict: guilty. Em dash : After weeks of deliberation, the jury finally reached a verdict— guilty. Using an em dash in this way can show emphasis, so be aware of how it can change the tone of the sentence.

18. Em dashes — An em dash can also be used in place of a semicolon: Semicolon : Do this; don’t do that. Em dash : Do this—don’t do that. As mentioned on the previous slide, using an em dash in this way can subtly change the tone of the sentence, so use it wisely.

19. How To Format Em Dashes — Most keyboards don’t have a key that does this either. On a Windows computer, use the code ALT 0151. On a Mac, use SHIFT, ALT, and the regular hyphen key. Again, two hyphens in a row (--) will autocorrect to an en dash in some word processors, so watch out for this if you mean to use an em dash .

20. The End !