Punctuation isn’t just minutia—it shapes tone and clarity. Let’s analyze the suspensive hyphen, which is supported by major style guides and helps simplify compounds.


Punctuation isn’t just minutia—it shapes tone and clarity. Let’s analyze the suspensive hyphen, which is supported by major style guides and helps simplify compounds.

Would you write 56-years-old, or 56 years old? There’s more than one answer, so let’s investigate why so many writers disagree.

Would you write 56-years-old, or 56 years old? Hyphenation can be confusing for editors, especially when certain style guides disagree.

Hyphens and dashes are common pieces of punctuation that can really improve your writing—if you know how to use them.