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7.51 Spelling and enunciation

Use the hyphen to spell out a word:

  • s-p-e-l-l
  • Where did you put the c-a-n-d-y?

Hyphens also indicate slow, deliberate enunciation:

  • im-pos-si-ble
  • Rai-aid!

For use of the hyphen with numerical expressions, see 2.10 Numerals and units of measurement, 2.11 Fractions, 2.15 Numerals and single letters, 5.05 Adjectival expressions and juxtaposed numbers and 5.08 Fractions.