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. …

Dec 17, 2025 · The hyphen, to mark words divided at the ends of lines, appeared late in the 10th century; single at first, it was often doubled in the period between the 14th and 18th centuries.

Nov 22, 2024 · Learn when to use a hyphen with these punctuation rules and examples. Discover how to use a hyphen correctly with words and numbers.

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

Mar 11, 2022 · What is a hyphen? A hyphen is a punctuation mark that is often used to form compound words. A hyphen resembles a small horizontal line (-). Besides being used to form compound words, …

Video gamer is clear without a hyphen, although some writers might prefer to hyphenate it. Writers using familiar compound verbs and nouns should consult a dictionary or look online to decide if these verbs …

The hyphen appears after the first compound, regardless if the compound normally has a hyphen. A hyphen occurs in the main compound only if it would normally be hyphenated.

For most writers, the hyphen’s primary function is the formation of certain compound terms. The hyphen is also used for word division, which is briefly explained here.

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 …

2 days ago · hyphen (plural hyphens) The symbol "‐", typically used to join two or more words to form a compound term, or to indicate that a word has been split at the end of a line. quotations