ENG302
: The Class
: The Process
: Final Preparation
: Hyphens
Punctuation: Hyphens
PUNCTUATION
The various symbols used to indicate stress, pause, and intonation are referred to as punctuation marks. Like most matters of correctness, the rules for punctuation change over time. Some of the most important current punctuation rules follow.
Hyphens
The hyphen indicates that two or more words function as one grammatical unit.
1. Words functioning as one grammatical unit are joined by hyphens.
The red-haired lady stole the plans. (She is neither a red lady nor a haired lady, but a red-haired lady.)
2. Words not functioning as one grammatical unit are not joined by hyphens.
The ugly old man is my boss. (Ugly and old each modify boss: the boss is ugly and the boss is old.)
The sharply-rising prices hurt the economy. (The adverb sharply modifies the adjective rising; it does not modify prices.)
Hyphens should also be used in the following situations:
Numbers less than l00: Fifty-six students failed the test.
Fractions: You must use a three-quarter-inch wrench for that job.
E-mail Greg Larkin at
Gregory.Larkin@nau.edu
or call (520) 523-4911
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Northern Arizona University
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