Which uses proper puncuation? HINT: (there may be more than one answer)

I like ice cream-- it is very yummy!

Matt is very dumb- he is not smart.

Can You Use A Hyphen/Dash Correctly?

Approved & Edited by ProProfs Editorial Team

At ProProfs Quizzes, our dedicated in-house team of experts takes pride in their work. With a sharp eye for detail, they meticulously review each quiz. This ensures that every quiz, taken by over 100 million users, meets our standards of accuracy, clarity, and engagement.

Learn about Our Editorial Process

| Written by JonathonSimpson

JonathonSimpson

Community Contributor

Quizzes Created: 1 | Total Attempts: 204

Questions: 5 | Attempts: 204 | Updated: Mar 21, 2023

Settings

Create your own Quiz

5 question quiz to test your knowledge on hyphens!

Questions and Answers

1.

Which of the following correctly uses the hyphen?
- A.
  
  I am forty_five years old.
- B.
  
  I am forty - five years old.
- C.
  
  I am forty-five years old.
- D.
  
  I am forty-five years-old.
Correct Answer
C. I am forty-five years old.

Explanation
The correct answer is "I am forty-five years old." This is the correct usage of a hyphen to join the words "forty" and "five" together as a compound adjective modifying the noun "years." The other options either incorrectly use a hyphen to separate the words or do not use a hyphen at all.

Rate this question:
2.

A hyphen is longer than a dash.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
A hyphen is actually shorter than a dash. A hyphen is a punctuation mark used to join words or parts of words together, while a dash is a longer horizontal line used to indicate a pause or break in a sentence. Therefore, the statement that a hyphen is longer than a dash is incorrect.

Rate this question:
3.

Fill in the blank. Trevor is a quick _ witted little boy. Pick one for hyphen Pick two for dash

Correct Answer
one
1

Explanation
The correct answer is "one,1" because the phrase "quick-witted" is hyphenated, not dashed. The hyphen is used to join the two words together to form a compound adjective that describes Trevor as being quick-witted. The number "1" is included as a reinforcement of the correct answer.

Rate this question:

4
4.

A hyphen can be used as a semi colon.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
A hyphen (-) and a semicolon (;) are two different punctuation marks with distinct functions. A hyphen is used to join words together or to indicate a range, while a semicolon is used to separate two independent clauses in a sentence. Therefore, a hyphen cannot be used as a semicolon.

Rate this question:
5.

Which uses proper puncuation? HINT: (there may be more than one answer)
- A.
  
  I like ice cream-- it is very yummy!
- B.
  
  Matt is very dumb- he is not smart.
- C.
  
  Debbie is a mult-media star.
Correct Answer(s)
A. I like ice cream-- it is very yummy!
C. Debbie is a mult-media star.

Explanation
Both "I like ice cream-- it is very yummy!" and "Debbie is a mult-media star." use proper punctuation. In the first sentence, the double hyphen is used to indicate a pause or interruption in the sentence. In the second sentence, the hyphen is used correctly to join the words "mult" and "media" as a compound adjective.

Rate this question:

Can You Use A Hyphen/Dash Correctly?

Which of the following correctly uses the hyphen?

A hyphen is longer than a dash.

Fill in the blank. Trevor is a quick _ witted little boy. Pick one for hyphen Pick two for dash

A hyphen can be used as a semi colon.

Which uses proper puncuation? HINT: (there may be more than one answer)