Question

Which sentence uses a hyphen correctly?

A. I have to buy my grand-father a present.
B. I need thirty-six colors for this painting.
C. I looked under the bed-and there it was!
D. I've only read one-third-of the book so far.

Answer 1

Use of Hyphen(-)
Hyphens are used divide words at the end of line when the word cannot fit on the remainder of the line. There are six rules to follow.

1. Divide the word between syllables. It means, that one-syllable words are NEVER divided.

Incorrect Incorrect Correct

sp- su- sup-
orts pport port

2. The hyphen goes at the end of the firts line.

Incorrect Correct

sup- sup-
-port port

3. Prefixes and suffixes make natural divisions.

Incorrect Correct

in- inter-
ternational national

4. Do not divide proper nouns or adjectives.

Incorrect Correct

Pakis- Pakistan
tan

5. There should be at least two letters plus the hyphen on the first line and three letters on the second line.

Incorrect Incorrect Correct

s- supposed- sup-
upposedly ly posedly

6. Divide hyphenated word using the hyphen already in the word.

Incorrect Correct

moth- mother-
er-in-law in-law

Answer 2

The main purpose of hyphens is to put words together. They tell the reader that two or more words are related. As with any other punctuation mark, there are rules which establish when to use hyphens correctly.

One of these rules sets that you should hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine. Therefore, the sentence that uses a hyphen correctly in the examples is B: I need thirty-six colors for this painting.