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Primary English · Year 5Chapter 7 · Brackets, dashes, commas and hyphens
Year 5 English · Brackets, dashes, commas and hyphens · Lesson 7.3

Year 5 English: Hyphens to avoid ambiguity

Part of the Year 5 English brackets, dashes, commas and hyphens chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

7.3

Hyphens to avoid ambiguity

Year 5
Use hyphens to avoid ambiguity, such as re-cover and recover (P5-3)
Story. The class is making a poster about the school library. Tara writes, We need to re-cover the books. Her friend Ben reads it and thinks she means recover, which means to get back to health or to find something again. Tara adds a hyphen so the word is clear: re-cover, to cover again.

Key pattern

A hyphen can show the difference between two words that are spelled the same way, or that look alike.

re-cover means to cover again. recover means to get better, or to find something again.

re-sign means to sign again. resign means to leave a job.

A hyphen can also join two words used as one describing word: a small-scale plan.

Key ideas

  • A hyphen can separate the prefix re- from a word starting with e: re-enter, re-examine.
  • A hyphen can show a difference of meaning: re-sign and resign.
  • Check the meaning in a dictionary if you are not sure.
  • Hyphens are used in writing, not in speech.
Worked example 7.3.1
Which word means to cover again: recover or re-cover?

Method. Look at the hyphen and the meaning.

  1. Find the meaning. Re- means again, so to cover again needs the hyphen.
    again
  2. Choose the spelling. The hyphen shows the word is re-cover.
    re-cover
  3. Write the answer.
    re-cover

Check. re-cover. ✓

Worked example 7.3.2
Which word means to leave a job: resign or re-sign?

Method. Think about the meaning of each word.

  1. Find the meaning. To leave a job is resign.
    leave
  2. Check the other word. Re-sign means to sign again.
    sign again
  3. Write the answer.
    resign

Check. Resign. ✓

Worked example 7.3.3
Add a hyphen to show the meaning of She decided to re-form the club. (to form it again)

Method. Add a hyphen after re- to show the meaning is form again.

  1. Find the word. The word is re-form, to form again.
    re-form
  2. Add the hyphen. Put a hyphen after re- so the reader sees the meaning.
    re-form
  3. Write the answer.
    re-form

Check. re-form. ✓

Exercise 7C  Practice: hyphens and meaning

1
FWhich word means to get better: recover or re-cover?
2
FWhich word means to sign again: resign or re-sign?
3
FWhich word means to be angry at someone: resent or re-sent?
4
FWhich word means to send again: resent or re-sent?
5
FAdd a hyphen to show that the sentence means to cover the books again: We will recover the books.
6
PSWhich word means to leave a job: re-sign or resign?
7
PSWrite the word that means to form again, with a hyphen to show the meaning.
8
PSWhich sentence needs a hyphen to show meaning: She will re-sign the form or She will resign the form?
9
PSWhich hyphen is correct in a describing phrase: a small scale plan or a small-scale plan?
10
PSAdd a hyphen to show that the phrase is one describing word: a well known author
11
RExplain why re-cover and recover need different spellings.
12
RWrite one sentence with re-sign and one with resign, and make each meaning clear.

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