Hi all,

I was reading a book yesterday and there was a lot of use of hyphens. When are hyphens used? Just as a background the hyphens in this case were not used for splitting a word or completing a word. It was used as punctuations.

thanks

From SC point of view...I should say...hyphen is used to insert a list.

ex: Names of persons. Refer below example.

Each of the fallen soldiers – Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - were hard workers, very different from the soldiers that remained to guard the hospital.

A. Each of the fallen soldiers – Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - were hard workers
B. Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - each of them fallen soldiers – were hard workers
C. The fallen soldiers – Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - were all hard workers
D. Hard workers - Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - each a fallen soldier
E. Hard workers - Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - every one a fallen soldier

C is the correct answer.

Another example.

Each of Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson. Pauline Pfeiffer. Martha Gelhom. and Mary Welsh --were strong and interesting women, very different from the often pallid women who populate his novels.

(A) Each of Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--were strong and interesting women,
(B) Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhorn, and Mary Welsh--each of them Hemingway's wives--were strong and, interesting women,
(C) Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--were all strong and interesting women,
(D) Strong and interesting women—Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--each a wife of Hemingway, was
(E) Strong and interesting women—Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--every one of Hemingway's wives were

C is the correct answer.