HYPHENS Meaning and
Definition
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Hyphens are punctuation marks used primarily to join words or parts of words together. They are commonly used to create compound words, to clarify the relationship between connected words, or to indicate the division or continuation of a word at the end of a line.
When used to form compound words, hyphens connect two or more words into one, often to create new meanings or to describe a specific entity. For example, "well-known," "twenty-five," and "self-confidence" are compound words formed using hyphens.
Hyphens are also used to clarify the relationship between words. For instance, hyphens can help to distinguish between a quickly-growing business and a quickly growing business. The hyphen in the former example indicates that the business is growing quickly, while in the latter, "quickly" describes the growth of the business.
Furthermore, hyphens are instrumental in dividing or continuing words at the end of a line, particularly in text alignment or word processing programs. This is known as hyphenation and helps to maintain a balanced and even appearance of text.
Overall, hyphens aid in the correct interpretation and understanding of language, whether by joining words, indicating relationships, or managing word division. Their use contributes to clarity, coherence, and effective communication in written texts.
Top Common Misspellings for HYPHENS *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for HYPHENS
Etymology of HYPHENS
The word "hyphens" is derived from the Greek word "hyphen" which means "under one" or "in one". This term was later adapted into English from the late Latin word "hyphen" or "hyphēna". The original concept of "hyphen" referred to a marking or line used to connect words or parts of words together. Over time, this word evolved to specifically refer to the dash-like punctuation mark that performs the same function.
Similar spelling word for HYPHENS
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