Lamentation for the Hyphen

In the world of punctuation, where the period, question mark and comma reign supreme, let us give a moment of silence to honor the gradual demise of the hyphen. Indeed, some of the younger generations have even forsaken its name, calling it a “dash”.

Perhaps the hyphen’s demise began with the advent of the electronic typewriter and word processors. Back in the dark manual days of the written word, the hyphen was the indispensable method of breaking the syllables of a word at the end of a line. Today, syllabic breaking is as much a relic as Thee and Thou.

Common usage has contributed, as well. Many words, like reenter, dislike and unnatural, which once utilized the hyphen, will pass Spell Check with ease. Even phrases like “10 year old “, have shed their need for this once pervasive punctuation. Let’s not confuse the hyphen with the minus sign or dash, which are merely look alike analogs. (see, even “look alike” passes Spell Check)

Like us poor little lambs and Black Sheep, the hyphen may well “pass and be forgotten with the rest”.