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Hyphenated Words: Usage, Rules, and Examples (2024)

Hyphenated words can be confusing for writers! There are many rules and guidelines on when to use hyphens. In today’s article, we’ll take a look at exactly what hyphenated words are and when to use them. We’ll go through plenty of examples so that you can use hyphenated words with confidence in your writing.

Contents:

  1. What Are Hyphenated Words?
  2. When to Use Hyphenated Words
  3. Rules to Follow: What Words Should and Shouldn’t Be Hyphenated?
  4. Examples of Hyphenated Compound Words
  5. Other Uses of Hyphens in Writing

What Are Hyphenated Words?

A hyphenated word is a word that contains at least one hyphen.