Russian grammar often uses dashes between words. These characters can be a dash, minus or hyphen. On the keyboard, for example, these characters are denoted the same way. Consider in this article what a hyphen is and the rules for using it.
Definition
What is the answer to the question of what is a hyphen? This is a kind of connecting sign or division sign, which is not alphabetic and is used both in Russian orthography and in the writing of other languages.
Difference between dash and hyphen
Dash separates parts of a sentence, for example: "Winter is the cold season." A dash is a punctuation mark, like a comma or a question mark. Spaces are placed before and after it.
The hyphen connects complex words and phrases (any, historical-philological, 150-year-old), is used in abbreviated forms of words, and is also used when line breaks.
Thus, we can say that although the spelling of a hyphen and a dash is similar, their tasks in sentences and phrases are different. A hyphen is a spelling mark, and a dash is a punctuation mark. If ato consider signs from the point of view of typography, then spaces are not placed next to hyphens, unlike dashes. And the hyphen is shorter.
Hyphen: usage rules
Which words must be hyphenated? Here are the main rules in force:
- Dictionary formations that are the repetition of one word. Let's say: the color is yellow-yellow, woof-woof, barely managed. Here, some limitation or strengthening of parameters is taken into account.
- If the word is repeated, but slightly transformed into an ending or prefix: a big, big balloon, one sitting alone, put it crosswise.
- The hyphen indicates two similar meanings: good luck. Note: if one word is in the nominative and the other is in the instrumental case, then these identical words are written without a hyphen: eccentric eccentric, work is work.
- Graphic abbreviation of two complex adjectives to indicate abbreviations of phrases. To understand what a hyphen is, examples will help: c.-m. (naval), s.-x. (agricultural).
- When forming complex words that use digital designations. For example: 33 percent, 10 degrees.
- When forming words with numbers that form ordinal numbers: 100 thousandth.
- To form numbers that end with ordinal ending: 14th, 41st year, 100th customer.
- Some terms or names; perhaps abbreviations that use a certain letter. Let's say: trace M-8, α-rays (alpha particle), shapeP-4.
Parts of speech using hyphens
When classified by parts of speech, the hyphen is used in adjectives, nouns, adverbs, particles and prepositions.
Thus, a hyphen is placed for those adjectives that were formed from:
- Nouns - names, denominations: Tatar-Mongolian, social democratic.
- Before direction words: south, north, etc.
- For words specifying quality or addition to shades: bright red, lemon yellow, sweet and sour.
- When using two words of equal meaning: Russian-French dictionary.
In a noun, a hyphen is used for complex names - surnames and geographical names. Also put before foreign words - headquarters, prime minister.
What is a hyphen in adverbs? Words that begin with "by", as well as ordinal numbers, must be written with a hyphen: first, third, etc. In addition, "dash" is used in complex prepositions and particles.
