When should you put a hyphen?

A hyphen should be used to connect two or more Words that function together as a single adjective before a noun, such as "well-known author" or "high-quality product." It is also used in compound numbers (twenty-one, thirty-five) and to avoid confusion in phrases (e.g., "re-sign" vs. "resign"). Additionally, hyphens can connect prefixes to proper nouns or acronyms (e.g., "pre-World War II"). Use them judiciously to enhance clarity in your writing.