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Using hyphens, en dashes, em dashes, brackets and parentheses.
Hyphens, en dashes, em dashes, and parentheses perform different grammatical and typographic functions.
Hyphens commonly join words into compounds, en dashes commonly express ranges or connections, em dashes mark breaks or interruptions, and parentheses enclose supplementary information.
Hyphens can join words that function together as a compound expression.
For example, well-known, part-time, and user-friendly.
Multiword expressions functioning as a single adjective before a noun are often hyphenated when needed to clarify their structure.
For example, a well-known author, a high-speed train, and a ten-year-old child.
Compound expressions used after a noun do not always retain the same hyphenation as before the noun.
For example, The author is well known, but a well-known author.
Number-unit combinations functioning as compound modifiers before nouns are normally hyphenated, with the unit in singular form.
For example, a five-kilometre walk and a two-year-old child.
Age expressions used as compound modifiers before nouns are normally hyphenated.
For example, a six-year-old boy and a twenty-year-old building.
Fractions used as compound modifiers can be hyphenated to show that the words function as one unit.
For example, a two-thirds majority and a three-quarter-mile road.
Some prefixes may be hyphenated for clarity, pronunciation, or established lexical convention.
Examples include ex-president, self-employed, and anti-inflammatory.
Ex- is commonly hyphenated when it means former.
For example, ex-president and ex-wife.
Self- compounds are commonly hyphenated when self forms part of a compound word.
For example, self-employed, self-control, and self-service.
Some compounds change from hyphenated expressions to closed or open compounds as usage becomes established.
For example, email, online, and healthcare demonstrate that spelling conventions can change over time and by style.
A hyphen can make the intended grouping of words clearer and prevent ambiguity.
For example, re-cover can distinguish the verb from recover in contexts where the distinction matters.
Compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine are normally hyphenated when written in words.
For example, twenty-one, forty-five, and ninety-nine.
Compound ordinal numbers are normally hyphenated when the ordinal forms part of a compound expression.
For example, twenty-first, thirty-second, and one-hundred-and-first depending on the selected number style.
Some multiword nouns are conventionally hyphenated, although spelling varies according to established usage.
For example, mother-in-law, editor-in-chief, and passer-by.
In many hyphenated compounds, the main noun element takes the plural marker.
For example, mothers-in-law, editors-in-chief, and runners-up.
An en dash can connect two endpoints in numerical ranges.
For example, pages 10–20, 2010–2020, and 5–7 p.m.
An en dash can connect names or terms that form a relationship, route, comparison, or span.
For example, the London–Paris train and the teacher–student relationship.
A hyphen joins elements within a word or compound, while an en dash commonly connects separate endpoints or concepts.
For example, a five-year-old child uses hyphens, while 2010–2020 uses an en dash.
An em dash can mark an abrupt break, interruption, or change in thought.
For example, I was going to call—but then I forgot.
Em dashes can set off supplementary information more strongly than commas or parentheses.
For example, The solution—although expensive—worked.
An em dash can highlight a final word, phrase, or explanation with stronger emphasis than a comma.
For example, There was only one option—leave.
Em dashes can represent interruptions or abrupt breaks in dialogue and are also used in some styles instead of quotation marks for dialogue.
For example, "I thought you were—" "Stop!" depending on the narrative convention.
Em dashes can replace paired commas when stronger interruption or emphasis is intended.
For example, The report—which was incomplete—was rejected versus The report—which was incomplete—was rejected with dashes providing stronger emphasis.
Parentheses enclose information that is supplementary and not essential to the main sentence.
For example, The meeting (which was originally scheduled for Monday) was postponed.
Parentheses can provide short definitions, explanations, or clarifications without interrupting the main structure excessively.
For example, The CPU (central processing unit) controls the process.
Parentheses can enclose dates, references, abbreviations, or other supplementary details.
For example, William Shakespeare (1564–1616) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Parenthetical material embedded within a sentence should normally not disrupt the grammatical relationship between the surrounding words.
For example, The project (despite several delays) was completed.
Punctuation placement depends on whether punctuation belongs to the parenthetical material or the surrounding sentence.
For example, He finally arrived (much later than expected). versus He finally arrived. (It was nearly midnight.)
Square brackets can mark inserted material, editorial changes, or clarifications inside quotations.
For example, "She [the manager] approved the request."
Parentheses usually make supplementary information less prominent, while dashes give parenthetical information greater emphasis.
For example, The project (despite its cost) succeeded versus The project—despite its cost—succeeded.
Hyphenation with prefixes and proper names depends on established spelling, readability, and style conventions.
For example, anti-American, non-English, and post-war may be hyphenated where the resulting compound benefits from clear boundaries.
A hyphen may be used at the end of a line in some traditional typography to indicate that a word continues on the next line.
Modern digital typesetting often handles line breaks automatically, so manual line-break hyphenation should be used cautiously.
Spacing around en and em dashes varies by regional and publication style.
For example, some styles use an em dash without spaces, while others use spaces around it.
Use hyphens for compounds, en dashes for ranges and relationships, em dashes for strong breaks or emphasis, and parentheses for supplementary information.
Common mistakes include using hyphens for numerical ranges, confusing hyphens with dashes, omitting necessary hyphens from compound modifiers, overusing parentheses, and applying inconsistent dash spacing.