Hyphens are small punctuation marks, but they play an important role in English writing. Many learners find hyphens confusing because the rules are not always clear. In this guide, you will learn when to use hyphens in English, with simple rules and clear examples to help you write more accurately and confidently.
What Is a Hyphen?
A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark used to join words or parts of words that work together as one idea.
Examples:
- well-known
- self-esteem
- mother-in-law
Hyphens are different from dashes (—) and underscores (_), which have different uses in writing.
Why Are Hyphens Important?
Hyphens can change the meaning of a sentence.
Compare:
- small business owner → the owner is small
- small-business owner → the business is small
Without a hyphen, the meaning may be unclear or confusing.
When to Use a Hyphen
Hyphens are used in English to make meaning clear and avoid confusion. They commonly appear in the following situations:
- compound words, especially when the meaning may be unclear
- compound adjectives before nouns
- some words with prefixes or suffixes, mainly for clarity
- numbers and ages used as adjectives
Not all words in these groups require hyphens. Usage often depends on clarity and convention, so checking a dictionary is recommended. Each case is explained in detail in the sections below.
Hyphens in Compound Words
In English, compound words are formed by combining two or more words to create a new word with a distinct meaning. Hyphens are often used to join these words together, especially when they are used as compound adjectives or compound nouns.
Compound Adjectives
A compound adjective is made up of two or more words that work together to modify a noun.
-
Use a hyphen when the compound adjective comes before the noun:
a high-impact advertisement, a long-term goal -
Do not use a hyphen when the compound adjective comes after the noun:
The advertisement was high impact.
The goal was long term. -
Use a hyphen to avoid ambiguity:
small-business owner vs. small business owner
Compound Nouns
A compound noun names a person, place, or thing.
-
Some compound nouns are traditionally written with hyphens:
mother-in-law, attorney-at-law -
Many common compound nouns are written as two words:
school bus, coffee mug -
Hyphens may be used to avoid confusion:
man-eating shark vs. man eating shark
Hyphens with Prefixes and Suffixes
Using hyphens with prefixes and suffixes can be confusing because most of them do not always require hyphens. Hyphens are mainly used to improve clarity or avoid misunderstanding.
Prefixes
Hyphens are sometimes used with prefixes, especially:
- to avoid confusion
- with proper nouns
- when the word is hard to read
Examples:
- ex-husband
- co-worker
- non-profit
- re-evaluate
- un-American
Many prefixed words do not use hyphens:
- rewrite
- unhappy
- cooperate
- international
Suffixes
Some suffixes are commonly written with hyphens:
- president-elect
- factory-like
- Ferrari-type
- praise-worthy
Suffixes such as -ly and -ment never require hyphens.
Hyphens in Numbers and Ages
Hyphens are commonly used with numbers and ages when they describe a noun.
Numbers
Use hyphens when numbers act as adjectives before nouns:
- a five-foot table
- a six-inch ruler
- a five-year plan
Do not use hyphens when numbers act as nouns:
-
The plan lasts five years.
Ages
Use hyphens when age describes a noun:
- a ten-year-old dog
- a twenty-year-old student
Do not use hyphens when age comes after the verb:
-
The dog is ten years old.
Other examples:
- A twenty-year-old woman won the race.
- She is in her mid-twenties.
Practice Exercise with Answers
Now that we have learned about the usage of hyphens, let’s put our knowledge into practice. Here are a few exercises with answers to help you understand how to use hyphens correctly.
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct hyphenated word:
- The ___________ process is used to join two words together.
- She is a ___________-year-old girl.
- The ___________ related forms need to be filled out.
- He rode his ___________ bike to work.
Answers:
- The hyphenation process is used to join two words together.
- She is a three-year-old girl.
- The business-related forms need to be filled out.
- He rode his two-wheeled bike to work.
2. Choose the correct sentence with hyphens:
- A) The well known actor was in the movie.
- B) The well-known actor was in the movie.
Answer:
- B) The well-known actor was in the movie.
3. Choose the correct sentence with hyphens:
- A) The small business owner was struggling.
- B) The small-business owner was struggling.
Answer:
- B) The small-business owner was struggling.
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