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Colon vs Hyphen - What's the difference?

colon | hyphen |

As nouns the difference between colon and hyphen

is that colon is the punctuation mark ":" while hyphen is symbol "‐", typically used to join two or more words to form a compound term, or to indicate that a word has been split at the end of a line.

As proper nouns the difference between colon and hyphen

is that colon is {{surname|lang=en} while hyphen is Used to refer to a person with a hyphenated name

As a verb hyphen is

to separate or punctuate with a hyphen; to hyphenate.

As a conjunction hyphen is

Used to emphasize the coordinating function usually indicated by the punctuation "-".

colon

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (grammar) The punctuation mark " ".
  • * 2005 , William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style , Penguin Press, page 15:
  • A colon tells the reader that what follows is closely related to the preceding clause.
  • (rare) The triangular colon (especially in context of not being able to type the actual triangular colon).
  • (rhetoric) A rhetorical figure consisting of a clause which is grammatically, but not logically, complete.
  • See also

    * * (punctuation)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (anatomy) Part of the large intestine; the final segment of the digestive system, after (distal to) the ileum and before (proximal to) the anus
  • Synonyms
    * (final segment of digestive system) large bowel
    Holonyms
    * (segment of digestive system) large intestine
    Derived terms
    * colectomy * colic * colitis * colonic * colonitis * colostomy * colonic irrigation

    See also

    * bowel * large intestine * rectum

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) colon.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A husbandman.
  • A European colonial settler, especially in a French colony.
  • * 1977 , (Alistair Horne), A Savage War of Peace , New York Review Books 2006, p. 28:
  • The reaction of the European colons , a mixture of shock and fear, was to demand further draconian measures and to suspend any suggestion of new reforms.

    Anagrams

    * ----

    hyphen

    English

    (wikipedia hyphen)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Symbol "", typically used to join two or more words to form a compound term, or to indicate that a word has been split at the end of a line.
  • (figuratively) Something that links two more consequential things.
  • Usage notes

    Because the original symbol "-" (technically the hyphen-minus) covered usages aside from hyphenation there have been additional subsequent symbols created for hyphenation needs. They include the " (non-breaking hyphen) and the non-visible soft hyphen.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (dated) To separate or punctuate with a hyphen; to hyphenate.
  • Proper noun

    (en proper noun)
  • (colloquial) (Used to refer to a person with a hyphenated name)
  • Conjunction

    (English Conjunctions)
  • (Used to emphasize the coordinating function usually indicated by the punctuation "-").
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Synonyms

    * (used as coordinator) slash, cum

    See also

    * minus, minus sign * (Hebrew maqaf) * (wikipedia "hyphen") (punctuation) English coordinating conjunctions ----