Grammaropolis

Hyphen

Hyphen handles compound adjectives: joining two words to modify a noun; no spaces around a hyphen.

Pick a grade band

"Arf!"

Hyphen
One concept, eight grades, four frameworks
Tap an answer to see the exact standard it hits, in all four state frameworks.
Framework
Grades 3-5
Which sentence uses a hyphen correctly?
Aligned to CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2 in your state's standards.

No score, no sign-in. Tap to answer, then see the standard it hits. Change the grade above to watch the same idea deepen.

Play now · Free
Mark Patrol
Grades 2 through 8 · Teaches Punctuation inside a sentence

A sentence comes in missing the mark inside it. Read the scene, then place the right comma, apostrophe, quotation marks, semicolon, or colon.

Play Mark Patrol →
What Hyphen teaches

Hyphen handles compound adjectives: joining two words to modify a noun; no spaces around a hyphen.

Hyphen teaches the same idea across every grade, starting simple and going deep. Here is the whole concept: what it does, the jobs and kinds it splits into, the mistakes to watch for, and a worked example for each.

Hyphen at work

Hyphen joins. He links words into a single idea, so a well-known author and a part-time job each read as one unit. He is the short one. Stretch that same stroke longer and it becomes a Dash, which breaks a sentence instead of joining words, the difference the whole K-9 Unit turns on.

Meet Dash.

Concept
Connect compound adjectives before nouns

Use a hyphen to join two or more words that work together as a single adjective modifying a noun. Never use spaces around hyphens.

Examples
  • "This is an old-fashioned tune."
  • "In a state-of-the-art recording studio!"
  • "She wore a well-fitting dress."
Watch out for
  • Adding spaces around the hyphen
  • Using hyphen after the noun being modified
  • Hyphenating single-word adjectives
Concept
Compound nouns and names

Use hyphens in certain compound nouns and proper names to show they form one concept or relationship.

Examples
  • "mother-in-law"
  • "sixty-seven"
  • "self-awareness"
Watch out for
  • Inconsistent hyphenation across writing
  • Using spaces instead of hyphens
  • Over-hyphenating compound nouns
Concept
Break words at syllables at end of line

When breaking a word at the end of a line, use a hyphen at the end of the line and continue the word on the next line at a syllable break.

Examples
  • "The procedure will be exceedingly com- plex to manage."
  • "Our understanding of photosyn- thesis has evolved."
  • "The trans- action was incomplete."
Watch out for
  • Breaking in middle of syllable
  • Not checking pronunciation for correct break point
  • Breaking in awkward places
For grown-ups

Why families and teachers trust Grammaropolis.

10M+
video views
15
years in classrooms
4
state frameworks
1,000s
students reached
Praise from press and teachers

"Learning grammar has never been more fun!"

School Library Journal

"It's like School House Rock and the Mr. Men books had an adorable love child."

Cool Mom Picks

"My students even asked if they can get extra credit for making up a dance or new lyrics to the songs."

Madi Costa-Krisko, 8th Grade, Palo Alto, CA

"After using it last year, my kids really got it!"

Kate Skibicki, 6th Grade, Bismarck, ND
What your child can now do

The Mayor certifies every finished cycle. Hyphen's certificate joins the set as the cycle ships.

When a child finishes a cycle, the Mayor signs a certificate naming exactly what they learned. Proof of learning, not a score, and standards-aligned across Common Core, Texas, Florida, and New York.

Hear the song

Hyphen has a song.

“Hyphen-Dash Mash-up”

Ready to learn Hyphen's rules with Hyphen?

Learn hyphens & dashes →

Free to explore today.