Hyphen facts for kids

A hyphen looks like this: -. It's a small dash that connects words or parts of words. Hyphens are super useful in writing! They help make sentences clearer and easier to read.

What is a Hyphen?

A hyphen is a punctuation mark that looks like a short line. It helps join words or parts of words together. Think of it like a tiny bridge between words.

Why Do We Use Hyphens?

Hyphens have many different jobs in writing. They can change what a word means, help spell out numbers, or make long words easier to understand.

To Change Word Meaning

Sometimes, adding a hyphen can completely change the meaning of a word.

• For example, re-form means "to start again."
• But reform means "to change something for the better."
• So, a re-formed group is different from a reformed group!

For Numbers and Measurements

Hyphens are often used when you spell out numbers.

• You use them for numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine, like "thirty-two" or "forty-nine."
• They also connect words that describe a measurement, like "a two-year-old dog."

Joining Words Together

Hyphens are great for connecting words that work together as one idea.

Compound Words and Adjectives

When two or more words act like a single adjective before a noun, you often use a hyphen.

• For example, a "stainless-steel knife" means a knife made of stainless steel.
• Another example is "a well-known artist."

Adding Prefixes

Sometimes, a hyphen connects a prefix (a group of letters at the beginning of a word) to the main word.

• This happens when the prefix is added to a proper noun (a specific name).
• Examples include "un-American" or "anti-pollution."

Making Words Clearer

Hyphens can make words easier to read, especially when letters might get confusing.

• Imagine writing "shelllike" (like a shell). It's hard to read with so many 'l's!
• It's much clearer to write "shell-like."
• Another example is "bio-hazard" instead of "biohazard" to make it easier to see the two parts.

When Spelling Things Out

When you spell a word out loud, you use hyphens between the letters.

• For example, H-Y-P-H-E-N.

For Names and Titles

Hyphens are used when combining certain names or titles.

• If a dictionary is named after two people, like "the Merriam-Webster dictionary," a hyphen connects their names.
• Some people have a surname (last name) that combines their parents' names, like "John Rees-Williams."

Breaking Words at Line Ends

In books, magazines, and newspapers, sometimes a long word needs to be split at the end of a line to save space.

• A hyphen is used to show that the word continues on the next line.
• The word is usually broken between syllables.
• It's best to break the word in a way that makes sense, like this:

Showing How People Speak

If someone is having trouble speaking, like if they are stammering, hyphens can show this.

• For example: "I reached for the w-w-w-watering can."

Related Punctuation

• Punctuation

Images for kids

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  First page of the first volume of the Gutenberg Bible. It shows the epistle of St Jerome to Paulinus.

See also

In Spanish: Guion (signo ortográfico) para niños