Hyphens!!!?

I was graded *very* badly for using too many hyphens on a paper in High School. I wouldn't do it if I were you. Just cut out the ones (semicolons) you don't need, make some of them into commas or split some sentences; too long a sentence and they'll also count off for it.

If there's more than three ideas in a sentence, that's when you split it.

i.e. - We went to the house and got our stuff for the party; when I got everything together, there was something I knew I missed, I had to go back three times to remember what it was.

You'd have to take the bit off the last part of it (after 'missed') and make it a new sentence. They'll never count off for having too many sentences unless they specify a length and then, its usually for too many words altogether or too many letters.

If you want to seperate sentences you should use semicolon (;) and dash (--)

Semicolon is used when you feel that the following sentence has something relate to the prior sentence but if you make it another new sentence, it will make the sentence incomplete.

e.g. Some people work best in the mornings; others do better in the evenings.

Dash is used when you want to explain something.

e.g. We had a great time in Mexico--the kids really loved it.

Try using a conjunction to separate sentences, or just separate them into two. As a teacher I would not like a paper full of semicolons. Spice things up a bit with variety. Hyphens are more for very closely related thoughts - not necessarily to combine sentences. :)

A semicolon is used to separate related clauses in a sentence. A hyphen (or n-dash) is most often to indicate an interruption of a thought or a statement, such as:

"What I said was-"

"I know what you said!"

Generally, one doesn't need either. This is particularly true in a formal paper. Try to stick with periods and commas.

By the way, it's called an "m dash."

it may be best to try rewording, particularly in a research paper, or something weighted with your grade. hyphens are a little less formal, but overuse isnt good either, in some places, though, it may be acceptable to do this, yes.

well i agree with you that hyphens are ok -sometimes,but it is all about the person who is grading your paper,does he approove of hyphens?

i use them,get my point

No. It is not okay.