Hyphen use while we said above that the em dash, also called the “common dash,” is the most common of the true dashes, hyphens show up more frequently in text. But when you’re not sure whether a compound word should have a hyphen or not, check a dictionary or style guide Hyphenated words tend to become closed compounds (single words with no hyphens) over time. Compounding is obviously in a state of flux, and authorities do not always agree in all cases, but the uses of the hyphen offered here are generally agreed upon. Video gamer is clear without a hyphen, although some writers might prefer to hyphenate it Writers using familiar compound verbs and nouns should consult a dictionary or look online to decide if these verbs and nouns should be hyphenated.
It helps clarify the meaning of compound terms, word breaks, and numbers. The hyphen’s lineage is traced to a punctuation mark created by dionysius thrax, a classical greek grammarian who flourished in the late hellenistic period when literary criticism and philological scholarship were at their peak.
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