This document discusses the differences between hyphens and dashes and provides guidelines for their proper usage. Hyphens are used to connect compound words and prefixes, while dashes can be used to indicate interruptions, emphasize parts of sentences, or connect numbers and extend sentences. The document provides examples of when to use hyphens, such as in compound adjectives and nouns, as well as prefixes. It also gives examples of when to use dashes, such as in times, dates, compound adjectives with equal parts, and to extend sentences. Finally, it provides instructions for typing dashes on different operating systems.

1. Hyphens & Dashes
How to use them and the difference between them.
Jona McLaughlin &
Hassan Khalifa

2. Layout
The difference between Hyphens and Dashes
When to use Hyphens
When to use Dashes
How to make a Dash

3. The Difference Between Hyphens and Dashes
Hyphens
 (-) The purpose of using Hyphens is
to connect two relevant words or
more, in order to show they are a
single entity.
Dashes
 (--) a Dash can be used to indicted
an interruption or emphasis in a
sentence, furthermore its used to
connect numbers and to extend
sentences.

4. When To Use Hyphens
Compound Adjectives
• free-range eggs
• an off-campus apartment
• state-of the-art design

5. When To Use Hyphens
Compound Nouns
• do-it-yourself
• sister-in-law
• Forget-me-nots

6. When To Use Hyphens
Prefix
• Re-enact
• Co-operate
• Anti-fascist

7. When To Use Dashes
Times & Dates
• The project will be delivered
January-June.
• I will visit 13 January-24 January.
• I will visit 0800-0900.

8. When To Use Dashes
Compound Adjectives with
Equal Parts
• The India-Pakistani issue
• The NATO-Warsaw Pact agreement

9. When To Use Dashes
Extend Sentences
• She demanded just one thing from her students — effort.
• She demanded effort from her students — that's all she
ever asked for.

10. How to make a Dash
Copy and paste an en dash (–) or an em dash (—) as required.
For Macs: ⌥ Opt+- (en dash) or ⌥ Opt+⇧ Shift+- (em dash), and ignore the rest of the page.
For Linux, if you have a Compose key: Compose--. (en dash) or Compose--- (em dash), and ignore the
rest of the page.
For Windows: Ctrl + number pad minus (en dash) or Ctrl + Alt + number pad minus (em dash) or two
hyphens (--), and ignore the rest of the page.
For iPhones and iPads: hold the - on screen keyboard until a pop up appears with choices including the
en dash and em dash. If using an external keyboard use the Mac advice above. Ignore the above page.