Hyphens and Dashes

A Mini-Lesson

UWF Writing Lab

 The Differences
• The hyphen (-) is used to separate parts of a word.

• The dash (–) is used to separate parts of a

sentence.

(Note: The dash can be

represented by two
hyphens.)
 Dashes should be used in all of the following
sentences. Notice the potential for confusion
when the hyphen is used instead of the dash.
 I have told you everything I know-nothing has been omitted
from my account.
 Whatever may be your pleasure-seek no further,
friends-you have come to the right place!
 Boy, I love being single-parents, I feel for
you-because I don’t think I’ll ever get
married and have kids.
 Please find a place to sit-down on the
left there-and we can get started.
 Confused yet? Using a dash instead of a
hyphen will correct all of these sentences:
 I have told you everything I know—
nothing has been omitted from my
account.
 Whatever may be your pleasure—seek
no further, friends—you have come to the right place!
 Boy, I love being single—parents, I feel for you—because I
don’t think I’ll ever get married and have kids.
 Please find a place to sit—down on the left there—and we
can get started.
 Use a Hyphen
To separate the parts of a compound adjective or noun

• a well-written document
• a thought-provoking story
• out-of-state students
• out-of-shape people
• a five-year-old boy
• (BUT: The boy is five
• years old.)
• secretary-treasurer
• student-teacher ratio
• work-study program
• inner-city schools
• jack-in-the-box
• mother-in-law
 Use a Hyphen
To set off certain prefixes

well-being
well-preserved
self-conscious
self-employed
all-purpose
ex-minister
ex-husband
anti-intellectual
pro-American
 Use a Dash
(carefully and sparingly)
To add emphasis

 Studies—published and unpublished—are included in

the portfolio.
 I promise I will make it to your
birthday party—as long as
you save me some cake!
 Use a Dash
To digress from the main clause

 All of my classes this semester—chemistry, English,

calculus, psychology, and physics—are really pushing me
to my limit.

 The last contestant—two
 hours late—finally made it to
 the competition. (This sentence
is an example of digression and
emphasis.)
 So how do I make sure to use the right one?

The dash can be represented by two hyphens (--).

Microsoft Word will automatically turn two adjacent
hyphens into a dash. Microsoft Word will also turn one
hyphen into a dash if you enter the following keystrokes:
SPACE, hyphen, SPACE. This dash (–) is a little shorter
than the long dash, but it is still longer than the hyphen.
 REVIEW
NOTE THE USE OF THE HYPHEN AND THE DASH
IN THE SNTENCE BELOW:

"To white evangelical women, Sarah Palin is a

modern-day prophet, preaching God, flag, and
family--while remaking the religious right in
her own image" (Lisa Miller, June 21, 2010
Newsweek).