how to hyphen a year

Charlotte

2 min read

·

01-02-2025

46

0

Share

Hyphenating years is a common writing question. Getting it right ensures clarity and professionalism in your writing. This guide provides a comprehensive explanation of when and how to hyphenate years, covering various scenarios and offering examples.

When to Hyphenate Years

The simple rule is to hyphenate numbers from 21 to 99 when they represent a year. This applies to both the decades and specific years.

Examples:

• 1920s: This is the correct way to write the decade. Note the plural 's'.
• 1920-1929: Use a hyphen to show a range of years.
• Nineteen-twenties: Hyphenate when writing out the year in words.
• Eighteen-nineties: Hyphenate when writing decades in words.
• '60s: Hyphenate when the century is implied (but be aware this is informal writing).

When NOT to Hyphenate Years

You do not hyphenate years that are expressed in a single number greater than 99.

Examples:

• 100: No hyphen needed.
• 2024: No hyphen needed.
• 1900-2000: No hyphen is needed between numbers greater than 99 when expressing a year range.

Hyphenating Years in Different Contexts

The rules above are generally applicable, but there are some additional considerations depending on context:

In Compound Adjectives

When years are part of a compound adjective before a noun, hyphenate them.

Examples:

• 1920s-era fashion: The hyphen clarifies that "1920s" modifies "era" and "fashion".
• mid-1800s architecture: The hyphen connects the modifiers before the noun.

Year Ranges

When indicating a range of years, use hyphens to show the span. There should be no space between the hyphens and the numbers.

Examples:

• 1995-2000: Clearly shows the period from 1995 to 2000.
• 1850-1860s: Combines a specific start year and a decade.

En Dash vs. Hyphen

Note the difference between en dashes (–) and hyphens (-). While a hyphen connects words or parts of words, an en dash shows a range. Word processors usually have an en dash option. Ensure to use it correctly for year ranges.

Using Numbers vs. Words

While you can write "nineteen-twenties", it's often more formal and clearer to use numbers for years.

Example:

The correct form is "1920s" rather than "nineteen-twenties". Though both are technically grammatically correct, the numerical form is preferred in most professional contexts.

Addressing Common Mistakes

• Incorrect: "The 19-20s" – Avoid breaking up a decade this way.
• Incorrect: "the 1920's" - The apostrophe is unnecessary and incorrect.
• Incorrect: "2000-2010" written as "2000 - 2010" with a space in between is grammatically incorrect.

Conclusion

Mastering hyphenation of years makes your writing cleaner and more professional. Remember the core rule: hyphenate numbers 21-99 when they represent years. Always ensure consistency in your usage throughout a piece of writing. Pay close attention to contexts like compound adjectives and year ranges to maintain clarity. Following these guidelines helps avoid common mistakes and ensures your writing is accurate.