Hyphens, Dashes, and Parentheses Mrs. Pearsall

Hyphens A hyphen is a short, single-character line which connects word parts. The hyphen serves two primary functions: divide words that split at the end of a line join word parts into a single word

Hyphens Use a hyphen to divide a word at the end of a line. Never hyphenate a prefix! Re-test (WRONG!) Retest (Correct) Only words with more than one syllable can be divided. Do not leave a single letter at the beginning or the end of a line. A-way (WRONG) Longer words can be divided in more than one place. Cor-por-a-tion

Hyphens Examples of Hyphens: Fifty-two A two-thirds majority Use a hyphen in compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine and in fractions used as adjectives. Examples of Hyphens: Fifty-two A two-thirds majority

Hyphens When two or more words expressing one thought act as an adjective before a noun, use a hyphen to connect them. Examples: Long-range plans Hard-working student

Dashes A dash is a longer line—double the length of a hyphen—which indicates a break or an interruption in a thought. Dashes are used to set off part of a sentence and tend to emphasize the set-off text.

Dashes Use a dash to set off a sudden change of thought or an afterthought, or to mean in other words. Examples: Tom and Alex are very close – most brothers are. Minju reads the Magic School Bus series – books for younger children.

Parentheses Parentheses- enclose information that isn’t necessary to the meaning of a sentence or information that some readers may already know. The president of the United States (Barack Obama) presented the award. The National Basketball Association (NBA) addresses the needs of their players and their audiences.

Use hyphens, dashes or parentheses correctly in these sentences. One of the best known pieces of furniture is the bed. A king size bed the largest size is wider than a double bed. How do you divide the word furniture?

How did you do? One of the best-known pieces of furniture is the bed. A king size bed (the largest size) is wider than a double bed. How do you divide the word furniture? Fur-ni-ture

Where are parentheses needed in these sentences? A double bed is four and a half feet 1.37 meters wide. French beds of the Empire period early 1800s were large.

How did you do? A double bed is four and a half feet (1.37 meters) wide. French beds of the Empire period (early 1800s) were large.

Use hyphens, dashes or parentheses correctly in these sentences. American colonists usually stuffed their beds with whatever was plentiful corn husks, wood chips, or straw. Could a colonial bed be one third husks and two thirds straw? The bedroom rarely a separate room could be in a corner.

How did you do? American colonists usually stuffed their beds with whatever was plentiful- corn husks, wood chips, or straw. Could a colonial bed be one-third husks and two-thirds straw? The bedroom (rarely a separate room) could be in a corner.