{"id":117,"date":"2017-07-20T16:29:29","date_gmt":"2017-07-20T16:29:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-geneseo-styleguide2\/chapter\/hyphens-and-dashes\/"},"modified":"2017-07-20T16:29:29","modified_gmt":"2017-07-20T16:29:29","slug":"hyphens-and-dashes","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-geneseo-styleguide2\/chapter\/hyphens-and-dashes\/","title":{"raw":"Hyphens and Dashes","rendered":"Hyphens and Dashes"},"content":{"raw":"

Hyphens<\/h2>\n
\n\n\"hyphen\"The Oxford Manual of Style<\/em> once stated, \u201cIf you take hyphens seriously you will surely go mad.\u201d Hyphens belong to that category of punctuation marks that will hurt your brain if you think about them too hard, and, like commas, people disagree about their use in certain situations. Nevertheless, you will have to use them regularly because of the nature of academic\u00a0and professional\u00a0writing. If you learn to use hyphens properly, they help you to write efficiently and concretely.\n

The Hyphen's Function<\/h3>\nFundamentally, the hyphen is a joiner. It can join several different types of things:\n
  • two nouns to make one complete word (kilogram-meter)<\/li>\n \t
  • an adjective and a noun to make a compound word (accident-prone)<\/li>\n \t
  • two words that, when linked, describe a noun (agreed-upon sum, two-dimensional object)<\/li>\n \t
  • a prefix with a noun (un-American)<\/li>\n \t
  • double numbers (twenty-four)<\/li>\n \t
  • numbers and units describing a noun (1000-foot face; a 10-meter difference)<\/li>\n \t
  • \u201cself\u201d words (self-employed, self-esteem)<\/li>\n \t
  • new word blends (cancer-causing, cost-effective)<\/li>\n \t
  • prefixes and suffixes to words, in particular when the writer wants to avoid doubling a vowel or tripling a consonant (anti-inflammatory; shell-like)<\/li>\n \t
  • multiple adjectives with the same noun (blue- and\u00a0yellow-green beads; four- and five-year-olds)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nA\u00a0rule of thumb\u00a0for the hyphen is that the resulting word must act as one unit; therefore, the hyphen creates a new word that has a single meaning. Usually, you can tell whether a hyphen is necessary by applying common sense and mentally excluding one of the words in question, testing how the words would work together without the hyphen. For example, the phrases \u201chigh-pressure system,\u201d \u201cwater-repellent surface,\u201d and \u201cfuel-efficient car\u201d would not make sense without hyphens, because you would not refer to a \u201chigh system,\u201d a \u201cwater surface,\u201d or a \u201cfuel car.\u201d As your ears and eyes become attuned to proper hyphenation practices, you will recognize that both meaning and convention dictate where hyphens fit best.\n

    Examples of Properly Used Hyphens<\/h3>\nSome examples of properly used hyphens follow. Note how the hyphenated word acts as a single unit carrying a meaning that the words being joined would not have individually.\n
    small-scale study<\/td>\ntwo-prong plug<\/td>\nstrength-to-weight ratio<\/td>\nhigh-velocity flow<\/td>\nfrost-free lawn<\/td>\n<\/tr>
    self-employed worker<\/td>\none-third majority<\/td>\ncoarse-grained wood<\/td>\ndecision-making process<\/td>\nblue-green algae<\/td>\n<\/tr>
    air-ice interface<\/td>\nsilver-stained cells<\/td>\nprotein-calorie malnutrition<\/td>\nmembrane-bound vesicles<\/td>\nphase-contrast microscope<\/td>\n<\/tr>
    long-term-payment loan<\/td>\n\u00a0cost-effective program<\/td>\n\u00a0time-dependent variable<\/td>\nradiation-sensitive sample<\/td>\n\u00a0long-chain fatty acid<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

    When Hyphens Are Not Needed<\/h3>\nBy convention, hyphens are not used after\u00a0words ending in -ly<\/em>, nor when the words are so commonly used in combination that no ambiguity results. In these examples, no hyphens are needed:\n
    finely tuned engine<\/td>\nblood pressure<\/td>\nsea level<\/td>\n<\/tr>
    real estate<\/td>\ncensus taker<\/td>\natomic energy<\/td>\n<\/tr>
    civil rights law<\/td>\npublic utility plant<\/td>\ncarbon dioxide<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
    \n\nNote:<\/strong> Phrases like containing the word well<\/em> like\u00a0well known<\/em> are contested.\u00a0Well<\/em> is an adverb, and thus many fall into the school of thought that a hyphen is unnecessary. However, others say that leaving out the\u00a0hyphen may cause confusion and therefore include it (well-known<\/em>). The standard in MLA is\u00a0as follows: When\u00a0it appears before the noun,\u00a0well known<\/em> should be hyphenated. When it follows the noun, no hyphenation is needed.\n
    • She is\u00a0a well-known<\/strong> person.<\/li>\n \t
    • She is well known<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n

      Prefixes and Suffixes<\/h3>\nMost prefixes do not need to be hyphenated; they are simply added in front of a noun, with no spaces and no joining punctuation necessary. The following is a list of common prefixes that do not require hyphenation when added to a noun:\n
      after<\/td>\nanti<\/td>\nbi<\/td>\nbio<\/td>\nco<\/td>\n<\/tr>
      cyber<\/td>\ndi<\/td>\ndown<\/td>\nhetero<\/td>\nhomo<\/td>\n<\/tr>
      infra<\/td>\ninter<\/td>\nmacro<\/td>\nmicro<\/td>\nmini<\/td>\n<\/tr>
      nano<\/td>\nphoto<\/td>\npoly<\/td>\nstereo<\/td>\nthermo<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
      \n\nNote:<\/strong> The prefix\u00a0re<\/em> generally doesn't require a hyphen. However, when leaving out a hyphen will cause confusion, one should be added. Look at the following word pairs, for example:\n
      • resign<\/em> (leave a position) v. re-sign<\/em> (sign the paper again)<\/li>\n \t
      • recreation<\/em>\u00a0(an activity of leisure) v. re-creation\u00a0<\/em>(create something again)<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\nCommon suffixes also do not require hyphenation, assuming no ambiguities of spelling or pronunciation arise. Typically, you do not need to hyphenate words ending in the following suffixes:\n
        able<\/td>\nless<\/td>\nfold<\/td>\nlike<\/td>\nwise<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

        Commonly Used Word Blends<\/h3>\nAlso, especially in technical fields, some words commonly used in succession become joined into one. The resulting word\u2019s meaning is readily understood by technical readers, and no hyphen is necessary. Here are some examples of such word blends, typically written as single words:\n
        blackbody<\/td>\ngroundwater<\/td>\nairship<\/td>\n<\/tr>
        downdraft<\/td>\nlongwall<\/td>\nupload<\/td>\n<\/tr>
        setup<\/td>\nrunoff<\/td>\nblowout<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n
        \n

        Practice<\/h3>\n
        1. Students can participate in (self paced\/self-paced) learning.<\/li>\n \t
        2. Rather than sit in a (two hour-long\/two-hour long\/two-hour-long) class, students can study at their convenience.<\/li>\n \t
        3. Would you like the (three or four-course\/three- or four-course) meal tonight?<\/li>\n \t
        4. He's behaving in a very (childlike\/child-like) manner.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n[reveal-answer q=\"326425\"]Show Answers<\/strong>[\/reveal-answer]\n[hidden-answer a=\"326425\"]\n
          1. Students can participate in self-paced<\/strong>\u00a0learning.<\/li>\n \t
          2. Rather than sit in a two-hour-long<\/strong> class, students can study at their convenience.<\/li>\n \t
          3. Would you like the three- or four-course<\/strong> meal tonight?<\/li>\n \t
          4. He's behaving in a very childlike<\/strong> manner.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n[\/hidden-answer]\n\n<\/div>\n

            Dashes<\/h2>\n\"anThe dash\u00a0functions almost as a colon does in that it adds to the preceding material, but with extra emphasis. Like a caesura (a timely pause) in music, a dash indicates a strong pause, then gives emphasis to material following the pause. In effect, a dash allows you to redefine <\/em>what was just written, making it more explicit. You can also use a dash as it is used in the first sentence of this paragraph: to frame an interruptive or parenthetical-type comment that you do not want to de-emphasize.\n
            • Jill Emery confirms that Muslim populations have typically been ruled by non-Muslims\u2014specifically Americans, Russians, Israelis, and the French.<\/li>\n \t
            • The dissolution took 20 minutes\u2014much longer than anticipated\u2014but measurements were begun as soon as the process was completed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>
              There is no \"dash\" button on a computer keyboard. Instead, create it by typing the hyphen button twice in a row; or use the \"symbol\" option in your word processor; or use the Mac shortcut option + shift +\u00a0\u2014.<\/div>\n
              \n

              Practice<\/h3>\nIs the dash used correctly in the following sentences?\n
              1. A good leader should be\u2014passionate, patient, productive and positive.<\/li>\n \t
              2. Politicians want to serve and improve the lives of people\u2014really!<\/li>\n \t
              3. Life is ninety per cent perspiration\u2014my kindergarten teacher told me\u2014and ten per cent inspiration.<\/li>\n \t
              4. Mayor Lee wants all city employees to ride bicycles to work\u2014what is he thinking\u2014on fair-weather days.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n[reveal-answer q=\"624972\"]Show Answers[\/reveal-answer]\n[hidden-answer a=\"624972\"]\n
                1. Incorrect. Normally, a noun precedes the series of examples: A good leader has several qualities \u2014 passion, patience and positivity.<\/li>\n \t
                2. Correct. A dash can join a short affirmation of what has just been said. [Really! Truly! Indeed!]<\/li>\n \t
                3. Correct. Dashes can be used to mark a sudden break in thought.<\/li>\n \t
                4. Correct. Though very informal, dashes can be used for sudden breaks in thought. Note that the comment is very loosely related to the central idea of the sentence.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n[\/hidden-answer]\n\n<\/div>\n\"anThe dash we typically use is technically called the \u201cem dash,\u201d and it is significantly longer than the hyphen. There is also an \u201cen dash\u201d\u2014whose length is between that of the hyphen and the em dash, and its best usage is to indicate inclusive dates and numbers:\n
                  • July 6\u2013September 17\n
                    • The date range began on July 6 and ended on September 17.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n \t
                    • Barack Obama (1961\u2013)\n
                      • This indicates the year a person was born, as well as the fact that he or she is still alive.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n \t
                      • pp. 148\u201356\n
                        • This indicates pages 148 through 156. With number ranges, you can remove the first digit of the second number if it's the same as the first number's.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIt can also be used for flight or train routes.\n
                          • The London\u2013Paris train will be running thirty minutes late today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>
                            Like the em dash, the en dash is not on the standard computer keyboard. \u00a0Select it from word processor\u2019s symbol map (or if you have a Mac, you can type\u00a0option<\/strong> +\u00a0-<\/strong>), or it may even be inserted automatically by your word processor when you type inclusive numbers or dates with a hyphen between them.\u00a0In most contexts, a hyphen can serve as an en dash, but in professional publications\u2014especially in the humanities\u2014an en dash is correct.<\/div>\nWhen you type the hyphen, en dash, and em dash, no spaces should appear on either side of the punctuation mark.\n
                            \n

                            Practice<\/h3>\nRead the following passage. Identify any errors with hyphens or dashes. Type the corrected version of the passage in the text frame below:\n

                            John Milton Cage Jr. (1912-1992) was an American composer, music theorist, writer, and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music and the non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post\u2014war avant-garde. Critics have lauded him as one of the most influential American composers of the twentieth-century.<\/p>\n

                            Cage is perhaps best known for his 1952 composition 4\u203233\u2033 a\u00a0performance of\u00a0the absence of deliberate sound. Musicians who present this\u00a0piece\u00a0do nothing aside from being present for the duration specified by the title. The content of the composition is not \"four minutes and 33 seconds of silence\"\u2014as is often assumed, but rather the sounds of the environment heard by the audience during performance.<\/p>\n[practice-area rows=\"4\"][\/practice-area]\n[reveal-answer q=\"162096\"]Show Answer[\/reveal-answer]\n[hidden-answer a=\"162096\"]Here are\u00a0the\u00a0corrections:\n

                            1. The hyphen in between\u00a01912\u00a0and\u00a01992 should be an en-dash: 1912\u20131992<\/li>\n \t
                            2. The word non-standard<\/em> doesn't need a hyphen. It should be spelled\u00a0nonstandard.<\/li>\n \t
                            3. The em dash in post\u2014war<\/em> should be a hyphen. The correct phrase would be \"post-war avant-garde.\"<\/li>\n \t
                            4. The twentieth century<\/em> doesn't need a hyphen.<\/li>\n \t
                            5. Some type of punctuation is needed after \"his 1952 composition 4\u203233\u2033.\" An em dash would be a good option here:\n
                              • Cage is perhaps best known for his 1952 composition 4\u203233\u2033\u2014a performance of the absence of deliberate sound.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n \t
                              • The dash after\u00a0\"four minutes and 33 seconds of silence\" does not match the comma that comes after the phrase\u00a0as is often assumed<\/em>. Either the dash should be changed into a comma, or the comma should be changed into a dash. A comma is the better solution, since\u00a0we've just added a dash into the paragraph. Too many dashes in one place can start to be overwhelming.\n
                                • The content of the composition is not \"four minutes and 33 seconds of silence,\" as is often assumed, but rather the sounds of the environment heard by the audience during performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n[\/hidden-answer]\n\n<\/div>","rendered":"

                                  Hyphens<\/h2>\n
                                  \n

                                  \"hyphen\"The Oxford Manual of Style<\/em> once stated, \u201cIf you take hyphens seriously you will surely go mad.\u201d Hyphens belong to that category of punctuation marks that will hurt your brain if you think about them too hard, and, like commas, people disagree about their use in certain situations. Nevertheless, you will have to use them regularly because of the nature of academic\u00a0and professional\u00a0writing. If you learn to use hyphens properly, they help you to write efficiently and concretely.<\/p>\n

                                  The Hyphen’s Function<\/h3>\n

                                  Fundamentally, the hyphen is a joiner. It can join several different types of things:<\/p>\n

                                    \n
                                  • two nouns to make one complete word (kilogram-meter)<\/li>\n
                                  • an adjective and a noun to make a compound word (accident-prone)<\/li>\n
                                  • two words that, when linked, describe a noun (agreed-upon sum, two-dimensional object)<\/li>\n
                                  • a prefix with a noun (un-American)<\/li>\n
                                  • double numbers (twenty-four)<\/li>\n
                                  • numbers and units describing a noun (1000-foot face; a 10-meter difference)<\/li>\n
                                  • \u201cself\u201d words (self-employed, self-esteem)<\/li>\n
                                  • new word blends (cancer-causing, cost-effective)<\/li>\n
                                  • prefixes and suffixes to words, in particular when the writer wants to avoid doubling a vowel or tripling a consonant (anti-inflammatory; shell-like)<\/li>\n
                                  • multiple adjectives with the same noun (blue- and\u00a0yellow-green beads; four- and five-year-olds)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                    A\u00a0rule of thumb\u00a0for the hyphen is that the resulting word must act as one unit; therefore, the hyphen creates a new word that has a single meaning. Usually, you can tell whether a hyphen is necessary by applying common sense and mentally excluding one of the words in question, testing how the words would work together without the hyphen. For example, the phrases \u201chigh-pressure system,\u201d \u201cwater-repellent surface,\u201d and \u201cfuel-efficient car\u201d would not make sense without hyphens, because you would not refer to a \u201chigh system,\u201d a \u201cwater surface,\u201d or a \u201cfuel car.\u201d As your ears and eyes become attuned to proper hyphenation practices, you will recognize that both meaning and convention dictate where hyphens fit best.<\/p>\n

                                    Examples of Properly Used Hyphens<\/h3>\n

                                    Some examples of properly used hyphens follow. Note how the hyphenated word acts as a single unit carrying a meaning that the words being joined would not have individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                                    small-scale study<\/td>\ntwo-prong plug<\/td>\nstrength-to-weight ratio<\/td>\nhigh-velocity flow<\/td>\nfrost-free lawn<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                    self-employed worker<\/td>\none-third majority<\/td>\ncoarse-grained wood<\/td>\ndecision-making process<\/td>\nblue-green algae<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                    air-ice interface<\/td>\nsilver-stained cells<\/td>\nprotein-calorie malnutrition<\/td>\nmembrane-bound vesicles<\/td>\nphase-contrast microscope<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                    long-term-payment loan<\/td>\n\u00a0cost-effective program<\/td>\n\u00a0time-dependent variable<\/td>\nradiation-sensitive sample<\/td>\n\u00a0long-chain fatty acid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                                    When Hyphens Are Not Needed<\/h3>\n

                                    By convention, hyphens are not used after\u00a0words ending in –ly<\/em>, nor when the words are so commonly used in combination that no ambiguity results. In these examples, no hyphens are needed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
                                    finely tuned engine<\/td>\nblood pressure<\/td>\nsea level<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                    real estate<\/td>\ncensus taker<\/td>\natomic energy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                    civil rights law<\/td>\npublic utility plant<\/td>\ncarbon dioxide<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
                                    \n

                                    Note:<\/strong> Phrases like containing the word well<\/em> like\u00a0well known<\/em> are contested.\u00a0Well<\/em> is an adverb, and thus many fall into the school of thought that a hyphen is unnecessary. However, others say that leaving out the\u00a0hyphen may cause confusion and therefore include it (well-known<\/em>). The standard in MLA is\u00a0as follows: When\u00a0it appears before the noun,\u00a0well known<\/em> should be hyphenated. When it follows the noun, no hyphenation is needed.<\/p>\n

                                      \n
                                    • She is\u00a0a well-known<\/strong> person.<\/li>\n
                                    • She is well known<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

                                      Prefixes and Suffixes<\/h3>\n

                                      Most prefixes do not need to be hyphenated; they are simply added in front of a noun, with no spaces and no joining punctuation necessary. The following is a list of common prefixes that do not require hyphenation when added to a noun:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                                      after<\/td>\nanti<\/td>\nbi<\/td>\nbio<\/td>\nco<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                      cyber<\/td>\ndi<\/td>\ndown<\/td>\nhetero<\/td>\nhomo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                      infra<\/td>\ninter<\/td>\nmacro<\/td>\nmicro<\/td>\nmini<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                      nano<\/td>\nphoto<\/td>\npoly<\/td>\nstereo<\/td>\nthermo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
                                      \n

                                      Note:<\/strong> The prefix\u00a0re<\/em> generally doesn’t require a hyphen. However, when leaving out a hyphen will cause confusion, one should be added. Look at the following word pairs, for example:<\/p>\n

                                        \n
                                      • resign<\/em> (leave a position) v. re-sign<\/em> (sign the paper again)<\/li>\n
                                      • recreation<\/em>\u00a0(an activity of leisure) v. re-creation\u00a0<\/em>(create something again)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

                                        Common suffixes also do not require hyphenation, assuming no ambiguities of spelling or pronunciation arise. Typically, you do not need to hyphenate words ending in the following suffixes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
                                        able<\/td>\nless<\/td>\nfold<\/td>\nlike<\/td>\nwise<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                                        Commonly Used Word Blends<\/h3>\n

                                        Also, especially in technical fields, some words commonly used in succession become joined into one. The resulting word\u2019s meaning is readily understood by technical readers, and no hyphen is necessary. Here are some examples of such word blends, typically written as single words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
                                        blackbody<\/td>\ngroundwater<\/td>\nairship<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        downdraft<\/td>\nlongwall<\/td>\nupload<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        setup<\/td>\nrunoff<\/td>\nblowout<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
                                        \n

                                        Practice<\/h3>\n
                                          \n
                                        1. Students can participate in (self paced\/self-paced) learning.<\/li>\n
                                        2. Rather than sit in a (two hour-long\/two-hour long\/two-hour-long) class, students can study at their convenience.<\/li>\n
                                        3. Would you like the (three or four-course\/three- or four-course) meal tonight?<\/li>\n
                                        4. He’s behaving in a very (childlike\/child-like) manner.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                          Show Answers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
                                          \n
                                            \n
                                          1. Students can participate in self-paced<\/strong>\u00a0learning.<\/li>\n
                                          2. Rather than sit in a two-hour-long<\/strong> class, students can study at their convenience.<\/li>\n
                                          3. Would you like the three- or four-course<\/strong> meal tonight?<\/li>\n
                                          4. He’s behaving in a very childlike<\/strong> manner.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                                            Dashes<\/h2>\n

                                            \"anThe dash\u00a0functions almost as a colon does in that it adds to the preceding material, but with extra emphasis. Like a caesura (a timely pause) in music, a dash indicates a strong pause, then gives emphasis to material following the pause. In effect, a dash allows you to redefine <\/em>what was just written, making it more explicit. You can also use a dash as it is used in the first sentence of this paragraph: to frame an interruptive or parenthetical-type comment that you do not want to de-emphasize.<\/p>\n

                                              \n
                                            • Jill Emery confirms that Muslim populations have typically been ruled by non-Muslims\u2014specifically Americans, Russians, Israelis, and the French.<\/li>\n
                                            • The dissolution took 20 minutes\u2014much longer than anticipated\u2014but measurements were begun as soon as the process was completed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                              There is no “dash” button on a computer keyboard. Instead, create it by typing the hyphen button twice in a row; or use the “symbol” option in your word processor; or use the Mac shortcut option + shift +\u00a0\u2014.<\/div>\n
                                              \n

                                              Practice<\/h3>\n

                                              Is the dash used correctly in the following sentences?<\/p>\n

                                                \n
                                              1. A good leader should be\u2014passionate, patient, productive and positive.<\/li>\n
                                              2. Politicians want to serve and improve the lives of people\u2014really!<\/li>\n
                                              3. Life is ninety per cent perspiration\u2014my kindergarten teacher told me\u2014and ten per cent inspiration.<\/li>\n
                                              4. Mayor Lee wants all city employees to ride bicycles to work\u2014what is he thinking\u2014on fair-weather days.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                                Show Answers<\/span><\/p>\n
                                                \n
                                                  \n
                                                1. Incorrect. Normally, a noun precedes the series of examples: A good leader has several qualities \u2014 passion, patience and positivity.<\/li>\n
                                                2. Correct. A dash can join a short affirmation of what has just been said. [Really! Truly! Indeed!]<\/li>\n
                                                3. Correct. Dashes can be used to mark a sudden break in thought.<\/li>\n
                                                4. Correct. Though very informal, dashes can be used for sudden breaks in thought. Note that the comment is very loosely related to the central idea of the sentence.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                                                  \"anThe dash we typically use is technically called the \u201cem dash,\u201d and it is significantly longer than the hyphen. There is also an \u201cen dash\u201d\u2014whose length is between that of the hyphen and the em dash, and its best usage is to indicate inclusive dates and numbers:<\/p>\n

                                                    \n
                                                  • July 6\u2013September 17\n
                                                      \n
                                                    • The date range began on July 6 and ended on September 17.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                    • Barack Obama (1961\u2013)\n
                                                        \n
                                                      • This indicates the year a person was born, as well as the fact that he or she is still alive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                      • pp. 148\u201356\n
                                                          \n
                                                        • This indicates pages 148 through 156. With number ranges, you can remove the first digit of the second number if it’s the same as the first number’s.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                          It can also be used for flight or train routes.<\/p>\n

                                                            \n
                                                          • The London\u2013Paris train will be running thirty minutes late today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                                            Like the em dash, the en dash is not on the standard computer keyboard. \u00a0Select it from word processor\u2019s symbol map (or if you have a Mac, you can type\u00a0option<\/strong> +\u00a0–<\/strong>), or it may even be inserted automatically by your word processor when you type inclusive numbers or dates with a hyphen between them.\u00a0In most contexts, a hyphen can serve as an en dash, but in professional publications\u2014especially in the humanities\u2014an en dash is correct.<\/div>\n

                                                            When you type the hyphen, en dash, and em dash, no spaces should appear on either side of the punctuation mark.<\/p>\n

                                                            \n

                                                            Practice<\/h3>\n

                                                            Read the following passage. Identify any errors with hyphens or dashes. Type the corrected version of the passage in the text frame below:<\/p>\n

                                                            John Milton Cage Jr. (1912-1992) was an American composer, music theorist, writer, and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music and the non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post\u2014war avant-garde. Critics have lauded him as one of the most influential American composers of the twentieth-century.<\/p>\n

                                                            Cage is perhaps best known for his 1952 composition 4\u203233\u2033 a\u00a0performance of\u00a0the absence of deliberate sound. Musicians who present this\u00a0piece\u00a0do nothing aside from being present for the duration specified by the title. The content of the composition is not “four minutes and 33 seconds of silence”\u2014as is often assumed, but rather the sounds of the environment heard by the audience during performance.<\/p>\n