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Introduction
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What are hyphens?
A hyphen is shorter than a dash and joins words together.
We do not leave spaces between the hyphen and the words.
For example: twenty-five
We might use a hyphen to join a prefix to a root word.
When should we use hyphens?
1. Numbers
In most numbers above 20
For example: sixty-five' or 'one hundred and twenty-two
2. Ages
When a person's age is written before a noun or instead of a noun.
For example: 'I have a two-year-old son who loves to jump around.'
3. Times
When time is written before a noun or instead of a noun.
For example: 'She caught the twelve-o'clock train.'
4. In names
When surnames of two names are joined together (double barrelled)
For example: Mary Taylor-Smith
5. Journeys
A hyphen is put between two place names.
For example: 'I caught the London-Bristol train.'
6. To avoid doubling a vowel
For example: anti-establishment
7. To avoid tripling a consonant
For example: shell-like
8. To prevent ambiguity, misreading or mispronunciation
For example: re-cover versus recover
The word re-cover means to cover again: ' I will have to re-cover the armchair that the cat has ripped to pieces.'
The word recover means to get better: 'You will recover much quicker if you stay in bed.'
This activity will help you master the different ways of using a hyphen correctly in your writing.
Good luck!
Question
/ 10Ms Tooze
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Teacher explanation