The character most often used to represent a hyphen (and the one produced by the key on a keyboard) is called the "hyphen-minus" in the Unicode specification because it is also used as a minus sign. …

Jan 16, 2024 · 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 …

Dec 7, 2016 · The meaning of HYPHEN is a punctuation mark - used especially to divide or to compound words, word elements, or numbers.

Mar 6, 2025 · A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark used to join two or more words or parts of words together. It helps clarify the meaning of compound terms, word breaks, and numbers.

Without the hyphen, the sentence seems to say that Springfield is a dreary place. With the hyphen, little-town becomes a compound adjective, making the writer's intention clear: Springfield is a charming …

Nov 12, 2025 · The hyphen’s lineage is traced to a punctuation mark created by Dionysius Thrax, a Classical Greek grammarian who flourished in the late Hellenistic period when literary criticism and …

Use a hyphen to avoid confusion or an awkward combination of letters: re-sign a petition (vs. resign from a job) semi-independent (but semiconscious) shell-like (but childlike) Use a hyphen with the prefixes …