Hyphens and Dashes

• What is a hyphen?
  • Hyphens are used to divide or to compound words, word elements, or numbers
• When do I use a hyphen to combine two words?
  • Use a hyphen to combine two words when modifying a noun
    • This three-inch heel = GOOD
    • This heel is three-inches = BAD
    • Infuse your wardrobe with urban-chic… = BAD
    • This urban-chic offering…  = GOOD
    • EXCEPTION: adverbs ending in ly NEVER get a hyphen
      • Beautifully-crafted leather = BAD
• Do I use a hyphen before a prefix?
  • Generally not, although the rule varies from word to word. When in doubt, visit m-w.com and look up the prefix (pre-, under-, etc.). Often you can find the correct usage of the word you are looking for in the word list under the prefix entry
• What’s the difference between a hyphen and a dash?
  • There are three types of dashes:
    • Hyphen (or i-dash): looks like - and is used to compound words as above
    • En-dash: is the width of the letter "n" (–) and is used when omitting entries between two items, such as dates or amounts
      • For example: 1997–1998
    • Em-dash (or double hyphen): is the width of the letter "m" (—) and is used to interject information in a sentence
      • For example: A lot of people—doofuses, mostly—don’t know the differences between dashes.
        
• Do I use spaces on either side of a dash?
  
  • Heavens, no!