4 rules of the use of the SCRIPT

The hyphen is a punctuation mark which is written as a small horizontal line and has different rules of use, depending on what we want to use it for. exist dashes (-), dashes (—), and underscores (_). Each one is used to fulfill a different function and it is important that you know which one to put in each case, so that your texts can be easily understood.

In this lesson from a PROFESSOR we are going to explain what are the rules of using the hyphen and what will be the occasions in which you will find this punctuation mark in the texts.

The hyphens do not have a single function, since they are a punctuation mark that is used to indicate many things. We are going to show you the different uses of the script, so you can see when it is correct to use this sign and how you should do it.

Hyphen to separate the words at the end of the line

With the advent of new technologies, this function has become quite obsolete, since if a word does not fit on one line, it writes it directly on the next. But that did not happen when it was written by hand and

you ran out of space on a line to write the whole word. The purpose of the hyphen is to indicate that a word continues on the next line, when we have lacked space.

To separate the word you must do it by syllables, since the hyphen can only be used between two different syllables. In this other lesson we discover the rule of compound words and hyphens.

The union of two proper names

In some cases it will be necessary union of two proper names, such as the name of certain battles, of some wars or borders. Time periods are also separated by a hyphen to determine the passage of time.

Enter prefixes

in some prefixes, such as "anti-" it is common to use a hyphen that separates the concept that the prefix opposes. Usually, it is necessary when a certain word does not exist, but rather it is being built at that very moment, to highlight something that opposes an initial concept.

In the introduction of dialogues

These types of scripts are used with two different modalities. On the one hand, we use the script for clarifications and, on the other hand, we have to resort to the scripts to separate the speeches of each participating interlocutor.

Usually, these scripts appear in the start of lines, to express that at that moment someone is intervening, who had not done so before. But we also find these scripts as a closure of a speech, giving the reader to understand that what follows is not a direct intervention by an interlocutor, but rather a statement by the narrator same.

The theory that we have given you in the previous section is very good and will help you to understand the concepts. But, you will really be able to understand the script usage rules much better when you see the examples that we have prepared for you.

script in a dialogue

Hello Young.

-Good morning.

-In that I can help?

-I need a book.

Narrator's clarification script

Gabriel's brother—the younger one, not the one you know—asked me out this morning.

hyphen in compound words

The president's journey was interrupted by a pro-abortion demonstration that gave him a hard time.

let's get you some hyphenated texts. According to the theory that we have given you in the previous sections, tell us to which classification each of the uses belongs.

text 1

"Did you give the letter to that one?" He asked her with unquestionable interest.

"Yes, miss," mumbled the matchmaker, already fed up with the old woman.

text 2

The Franco-Prussian War lasted just under a year.

text 3

If you want more information on this and other issues (the bibliography —even in Spanish— offers many interesting facts), there are books available in our library.

text 4

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These are the solutions to the previous exercise of the rules for the use of hyphens, so that you can check if the answers you have given are correct.

text 1

dialogue script

text 2

compound word hyphen

text 3

Clarification script

text 4

compound word hyphen

We hope this lesson has been able to help you understand the script usage rules in the Spanish language. If you are interested in continuing to learn more about this subject, to be able to write all your texts properly, do not hesitate to take a look at our spelling section.