When to use a dash or hyphen in a sentence?
The dash is often used after an independent clause. The hyphen, on the other hand, is used to join two words together like yellow-green. It usually does not have a space between the words. Also, the dash tends to be slightly longer than the hyphen, and usually would have spaces before and after the symbol.
Why do authors use dashes instead of commas?
Double dashes are used instead of commas (or parentheses) to interrupt a sentence. The phrase separated by dashes must be grammatically inessential, by which I simply mean that the sentence will still work without that phrase.
When should a hyphen be used?
Generally, hyphenate two or more words when they come before a noun they modify and act as a single idea. This is called a compound adjective. When a compound adjective follows a noun, a hyphen is usually not necessary.
Do you put a space before and after a hyphen?
The dash (–) is used to set off additional material within a sentence, often in order to emphasize it, to set off appositives that contain commas, or to indicate missing words. When typing, use two hyphens together without spaces to form a dash. Do not put a space before or after the dash.
Why do editors hate dashes?
For some writers, the em dash is a vice that their editors occasionally forgive but more often forbid. “The dash is an invitation to the reader to make meaning,” Dr. Smith said. “It can also be a leap of faith.”
Are dashes unprofessional?
Whether or not you use spaces around your em dashes (word—word or word — word) is a matter of style. Using a single hyphen instead of an em dash can confuse readers and make your writing look unprofessional.
How do you type a hyphen on a laptop?
For desktop PC: press “alt+ctrl+minus” on the numeric keypad (the number section on the far right of your keyboard). The trick will not work if you press the hyphen-key on the typewriter section of the keyboard.
How many times do you space after a colon?
Just as with the period, it used to be common to put two spaces after a colon, but now most style guides that address the matter (e.g., The Chicago Manual of Style) recommend using only one space after a colon.
What is the difference between a comma and a hyphen?
The hyphen (‐) is a punctuation mark used to join words and to separate syllables of a single word. The em dash (—) may be used instead of a comma to set off a parenthetical element in a sentence. Em dashes are always more emphatic than commas.
When should hyphen be used?
A hyphen is also used when a word is too long too fit in one row of writing. This is often done in books, magazines and newspapers to save space and paper. A long word is broken into two parts, of nearly the same length, with a hyphen at the end of the first part.
When to use colon vs comma?
Use a colon rather than a comma to follow the salutation in a business letter, even when addressing someone by his or her first name. (Never use a semicolon after a salutation.) A comma is used after the salutation in more informal correspondence.
When to connect words with hyphen?
Hyphen with Compound Modifiers: Two-Word Adjectives Before Nouns. A compound modifier is made up of two words that work together to function like one adjective. When you connect words with the hyphen, you make it clear to readers that the words work together as a unit of meaning.