Hyphens, slash symbol /, plus and minus symbol + -

When to use and not to use a hyphen, slash symbol and plus and minus symbol

When to use a hyphen

A hyphen is a symbol ‘-‘ used to link words together. Hyphens are used to clarify the meaning of different words when they are used together.  

Here are some examples of when to use hyphens.

Re- words starting with e:

  • re-evaluate
  • re-examine

Distinguishing words from similar ones:

  • re-sort, not resort
  • co-operate, not cooperate
  • re-form, not reform
  • co-ordinate, not coordinate

All words with ‘e’ before the word (as a prefix), except for ‘email’:

  • e-commerce
  • e-book
  • e-learning

Phrases where words have a combined meaning or a relationship:

  • a five-storey building
  • a well-explained report
  • the long-term effect

When not to use a hyphen

Words with ‘re’ as a prefix (unless the word afterwards begins with an ‘e’):

  • reinvent
  • reorder
  • reopen
  • replay
  • rewrite

Words that end in ‘ly’:

  • use genetically modified food, not genetically-modified food
  • use statistically significant changes, not statistically-significant changes

Prefixes that do not need hyphens:

  • macro
  • mega
  • micro
  • mini
  • multi
  • over
  • super
  • under

Do not use a hyphen unless it’s confusing without it.

Time and date ranges

Use ‘to’ for time and date ranges, not hyphens, for example:

  • 10.45am to 11.30am, not 10.45am - 11.30am
  • 1 March 2024 to 10 March 2024, not 1 March 2024 – 10 March 2024

Web addresses

Creating a web address or short URL should include hyphens, for example:

  • use westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/have-your-say 
  • don’t use westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/haveyoursay

Slash symbol (/)

Never use the slash symbol in place of ‘or’, ‘to’, for example:

  • do use parents or carers, don’t use parents/carers
  • do use 2024 to 2025, don’t use 2024/2025

You can use the slash in and/or.

Plus and minus symbol (+ and -)

Don’t use the plus and minus symbol (+ and -), unless in a dataset or table.

Where possible, write words in full instead of using symbols and special characters. This will make your content easier to read for all users.