FAQs
A hyphen joins two or more words together while a dash separates words into parenthetical statements. The two are sometimes confused because they look so similar, but their usage is different. Hyphens are not separated by spaces, while a dash has a space on either side.
Do Americans say hyphen or dash? ›
If your keyboard can't produce a dash, you will have to resort to a hyphen as a stand-in. In British usage, we use only a single hyphen to represent a dash - like this. American usage, in contrast, uses two consecutive hyphens -- like this (A).
What is the rule for dashes and hyphens? ›
A hyphen is not a dash! Hyphens cannot set off phrases or clauses, nor should they have spaces on either side of them. The en dash is longer than a hyphen, but shorter than an em dash (–).
Does American English use hyphens? ›
Generally, American English tends toward omission of the hyphen when it comes to prefixes ("readjust" or "midline," for example), while British English tends toward hyphenation in the case of prefixes ("pre-school," for example). However, there are no hard and fast rules.
What is hyphen in us? ›
A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that's used to join words or parts of words. It's not interchangeable with the various dashes. Hyphens are often used in compound modifiers when the modifier comes before the word it's modifying.
Why do Americans hyphenate? ›
In 1917 one in every three Americans had either been born abroad or had at least one foreign-born parent, a phenomenon captured in the term "hyphenated Americans." The hyphen could be characterized as a bridge between two cultures or a measure of divided loyalties.
Does all American have a hyphen? ›
All-America, All-American, Academic All-America(n)
These terms are always capitalized on both sides of the hyphen. All-America is an adjective, All-American is a noun: "Judy Denslow is an Academic All-American by anyone's standards." "Ed Breneke was an All-America halfback in only his sophom*ore year."
What are the 4 uses of dashes? ›
Dashes
- To set off material for emphasis. Think of dashes as the opposite of parentheses. ...
- To indicate sentence introductions or conclusions. You can sometimes use a dash to help readers see that certain words are meant as an introduction or conclusion to your sentence. ...
- To mark “bonus phrases.” ...
- To break up dialogue.
The Hyphen
- Use a hyphen at the end of a line to divide a word where there is not enough space for the whole word. ...
- Use a hyphen to indicate a word spelled out letter by letter. ...
- Use a hyphen to join two or more words to form compound adjectives that precede a noun. ...
- Use a hyphen to avoid awkward doubling of vowels.
A hyphen joins two or more words together while a dash separates words into parenthetical statements. The two are sometimes confused because they look so similar, but their usage is different. Hyphens are not separated by spaces, while a dash has a space on either side.
A dash often precedes the name of an author or source at the end of a quoted passage—such as an epigraph, extract, or book or film blurb—that is not part of the main text. The attribution may appear immediately after the quotation or on the next line.
How do you hyphenate American? ›
In the United States, the term hyphenated American refers to the use of a hyphen (in some styles of writing) between the name of an ethnicity and the word American in compound nouns, e.g., as in Irish-American.
What is an example of a hyphenated American? ›
Google defines a hyphenated American as “an American citizen who can trace their ancestry to another, specified part of the world, such as an African American or an Irish American (so called because terms like African American are often written with a hyphen.)”
When to use dashes in a sentence? ›
Dashes and parentheses indicate an “aside” to the point you are making in your sentence. Although sometimes considered interchangeable, each serves a specific purpose in your writing. Dashes interrupt your writing to insert an interjection or pause, while parentheses gently add information to your point.
When to use a dash instead of a comma? ›
Dash
- Use a dash instead of a comma if you want to set off a nonessential element that needs special emphasis—but use it sparingly and for deliberate effect.
- If a nonessential element contains an internal comma—again, a comma within the element itself—use dashes instead of commas to set the element off.
Use a hyphen to form a single idea from two or more words (socio-economic), and whenever its omission would change the meaning of a phrase: President Dunn will speak to small-businessmen. A hyphen can also be used to avoid duplicated vowels and tripled consonants (anti-oppression, pre-empt, hill-like).
Does American English use en dash or em dash? ›
The em dash is used in US English, with no spaces either side, in the same way an en dash is employed in UK English. So if you're writing for the US just use the longer dash not the shorter one and close up those spaces.
Is a dash just two hyphens? ›
Using a single hyphen instead of an em dash can confuse readers and make your writing look unprofessional. If you're writing text in a program or on a website where the em dash character is completely unavailable, use two hyphens together (–) to signify an em dash.
