What's the difference between a hyphen and a dash?
In English, there are three lengths of dashes
- hyphen (-) is a mark of punctuation that joins words (up-to-date)
- en dash (–) connects words that are related to each other (2012–2014)
- em dash (—) are similar to parentheses. It indicates a non-essential phrase—or comment—in a sentence.
Examples (hyphen)
high-speed
up-to-date
power-driven
good-looking
Examples (en dash)
Read pages 10–12.
The most profitable period was November–December.
The war occurred during the years 1939–1945.
Examples (em dash)
You think it’s easy—it’s not.
My neighbor—not for long—asked me to help her.
In English, there are three lengths of dashes
- hyphen (-) is a mark of punctuation that joins words (up-to-date)
- en dash (–) connects words that are related to each other (2012–2014)
- em dash (—) are similar to parentheses. It indicates a non-essential phrase—or comment—in a sentence.
Examples (hyphen)
high-speed
up-to-date
power-driven
good-looking
Examples (en dash)
Read pages 10–12.
The most profitable period was November–December.
The war occurred during the years 1939–1945.
Examples (em dash)
You think it’s easy—it’s not.
My neighbor—not for long—asked me to help her.
In English, there are three lengths of dashes
- hyphen (-) is a mark of punctuation that joins words (up-to-date)
- en dash (–) connects words that are related to each other (2012–2014)
- em dash (—) are similar to parentheses. It indicates a non-essential phrase—or comment—in a sentence.
Examples (hyphen)
high-speed
up-to-date
power-driven
good-looking
Example (en dashes)
Read pages 10–12.
The most profitable period was November–December.
The war occurred during the years 1939–1945.
Example (em dashes)
You think it’s easy—it’s not.
My neighbor—not for long—asked me to help her.
Hyphen is a mark of punctuation that joins words while dashes is a mark of punctuation that indicates a non-essential phrase or comment in a sentence.
Hyphen join two or more words together. There is no spaces before or after a hyphen. For example:
high-speed
up-to-date
power-driven
good-looking
Dashes create great emphasis on a phrase. It can sometime be replaced by brackets. For example:
You think it’s easy—it’s not.
My neighbor—not for long—asked me to help her.
Dashes are also used in ranges:
Read pages 10–12.
The most profitable years were 2012–2014.
Hyphen are used to joins two or more words together while dashes separate words into parenthetical statements.
Hyphen join two or more words together. There is no spaces before or after a hyphen. For example:
high-speed
up-to-date
power-driven
good-looking
Dashes set phrases apart. It can sometime be replaced by brackets. For example :
You think it’s easy - it’s not.
My neighbor - not for long - asked me to help her.
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