Hyphenation, slash symbol /, 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 Cumberland.gov.uk/have-your-say 
• don’t use Cumberland.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.