HYPHEN The hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that has a variety of uses. It is most commonly used to connect the elements of certain compound words. vice-president calorie-reduced pear-shaped tear-drop back-lighting anti-gravity child-like double-breasted Hyphens may also be used: At a line break to mark the continuation onto the next line of a word, which has been interrupted. With numbers in typing or printing to mean "to and including," as in "pages 219-255" or "1964-97." To separate the letters of a word that has been spelled out letter by letter. Use the American form for s-u-l-f-u-r rather than the British s-u-l-p-h-u-r." To represent letters that have been deleted or words that are illegible. "He called me a bas---d." "Her name is Sheila -----." In writing, to convey the impression of stuttering or halting speech. "May I p-p-p-p--leeese have that c-c-c-cookie?"