Hyphen Use

Hyphen use is relatively new to the English language. The origin of the use of hyphen is not clear, but it is said that the widespread acceptance was as a direct result of printing press. When printing became a norm, printers needed a way to keep all the lines uniform, hence often ran into the problem of having to split or separate words, that would normally not be separated. One of the methods to split the words was with the use of a small dash, that we now call a hyphen. However, over a period of time the use of hyphen has changed considerably in grammar and composition.

A Little About Hyphen

A hyphen is a punctuation mark, that is used to joint words or to separate syllables of a single word. Hyphens are often confused with dashes, which are longer and have various other uses. They are also confused with the minus sign. The main difference between the hyphen and the dashes is that, the hyphens are shorter than the dashes. The use of hyphens is known as hyphenation. One of the hyphen rules is not to place spaces between a hyphen and either of the words it connects, except, when you are using a suspended hyphen. For example, nineteenth and twentieth-century writers. It is important to remember, that hyphen usage rules are not agreed upon and different dictionaries will have their own versions about the use of hyphen between two words.

When to Use a Hyphen

Rule # 1
A hyphen should be used to join two or more words, that are serving as a single adjective preceding a noun. However, it is important to note, that compound modifiers come after a noun and they should not be hyphenated.

Example:
Use of Hyphen - chocolate-covered peanuts
Without the use of Hyphen - The peanuts served to us were chocolate covered.

Rule # 2
Hyphen should be used with compound numbers

Example: twenty-four, thirty-three

Rule # 3
Often hyphen are used to avoid confusion or an awkward combination of letters.

Example: shell-like

Rule # 4
Hyphen is used along with prefixes like ex-, self-, all-, etc., as well as with suffix like -elect, etc. A hyphen should also be used between a prefix and a capitalized word, that has figures or letters.

Example: anti-American, mid-June, all-inclusive, ex-employer, President-elect

Rule # 5
A hyphen should be used to divide words at the end of a line, when necessary. Such a break should be made only between syllables.

Examples: sell-ing, in-di-vid-u-al, etc.

Rule # 6
If you have to break words for line breaks, you will have to divide only already hyphenated words, only at the hyphen.

Examples: mass-, self-, etc.

Rule # 7
Hyphen can also be used for line breaks in words, that end with 'ing'. The hyphen should be placed, where a single final consonant in the root word is doubled before the use of suffix. The other alternative is to be hyphenate the suffix itself.

Examples: plan-ning, run-ing, call-ing, etc.

Rule # 8
Hyphen can also be used to check whether a compound noun is actually two words, one word or hyphenated. You will however have to check the dictionary to know, whether you should treat the noun as separate nouns.

Examples: eyewitness, eye-opener, eye shadow, etc.

Rule # 9
As is the case with the compound nouns, it is the same with the compound verbs as well. You will have to look them up in the dictionary to know, where they are to be hyphenated.

Examples: air-condition, downsize, etc.

Rule # 10
All spelled-out fractions should be hyphenated as a rule.

Examples: one-third cup, one-fourth of the employees, etc.

There is a lot of debate as far as the use of hyphen goes. Hence, you will have to keep referring to a dictionary to know if the particular words are to be hyphenated. At the same time, it is important that you do not over-use the hyphens.