hyphens & dashes

(pdf)

Problem

Many writers do not differentiate between hyphens and dashes, since the two marks look similar. Misuse of hyphens and dashes can obscure the meaning of a piece of writing, especially if a hyphen is used in place of a dash. Additionally, overuse of dashes can make the writing visually cluttered and awkward.

Solutions

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HYPHENS AND DASHES

Hyphens ( - ) are used to combine words.

Dashes ( -- ) are used in place of other punctuation to emphasize information in the sentence. Dashes are made up of two hyphens with no spaces in between them, but most computers replace them with a solid dash ( — ).

USE HYPHENS . . .

when writing out numbers from 21 to 99.

Wrong:    Fifty six
Correct:   Fifty-six

Wrong:    Seventy, four
Correct:   Seventy-four

to combine the words in a compound adjective coming before the noun it modifies.

Wrong:   This eighteenth century manuscript is interesting.
Correct:  This eighteenth-century manuscript is interesting.
Correct:  I found this manuscript from the eighteenth century to be interesting.

Wrong:   Joan loaned her ne’er do well brother money, despite the fact he hadn’t paid her back from the last time.
Correct:  Joan loaned her ne’er-do-well brother money, despite the fact he hadn’t paid her back from the last time.

with the prefixes all-, ex-, and self- and with the suffix -elect.

Wrong:   Doug runs into his exwife at the grocery store all the time.
Correct:  Doug runs into his ex-wife at the grocery store all the time.

Wrong:   That sounds like a self serving reason for volunteering.
Correct:  That sounds like a self-serving reason for volunteering.

Wrong:   The president elect will be inaugurated in January.
Correct:  The president-elect will be inaugurated in January.

USE DASHES . . .

before a list at the end of a sentence, in place of a colon.

It takes only three things to become a good writer—practice, practice, practice.

It’s easy to get to my house from here—right on University, right on 15 th Ave, left on Como, and stop at 1322.

on both sides of additional information in the middle of a sentence, instead of parentheses or commas.

Wrong:   Tom, who has never been lucky—won the jackpot last night.
Wrong:   Tom—who has never been lucky, won the jackpot last night.

Correct:   Tom—who has never been lucky—won the jackpot last night.

on both sides of additional information when the information contains commas.

Wrong:   Louie stormed into the room and took four items off the desk—a pen, a paper clip, and two sheets of paper, before leaving in a hurry.

Correct:   Louie stormed into the room and took four items off the desk—a pen, a paper clip, and two sheets of paper—before leaving in a hurry.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO USE DASHES TOO OFTEN, as they lose their effectiveness and your writing begins to look cluttered.

Cluttered:
While trying to get to campus on time—he was already running late—Dave chased after the bus. Once the bus stopped, he reached into his pocket for his fare and pulled his hand out—too quickly. As the change rolled all over the bus floor, Dave scrambled after it—cursing his luck.

Effective:
While trying to get to campus on time—he was already running late—Dave chased after the bus. Once the bus stopped, he reached into his pocket for his fare and pulled his hand out too quickly. As the change rolled all over the bus floor, Dave scrambled after it, cursing his luck.

For more information:

Hacker, Diana.  A Writer’s Reference. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003. 268–69, 278–81.