В чем разница между дефисом и тире?

Dashes and hyphens are not the same. While they may look similar, they have different functions and usages in writing.

A hyphen (-) is the shortest of the three and is primarily used to join words or parts of words together. It is commonly used in compound words, such as "self-esteem" or "mother-in-law." Hyphens are also used to divide words at the end of a line when word wrapping occurs.

On the other hand, there are two types of dashes: the en dash (–) and the em dash (—).

1. En dash (–): The en dash is longer than a hyphen but shorter than an em dash. It is used to indicate a range or a connection between two things. For example, "pages 10–15" or "the New York–London flight." En dashes are also used in compound adjectives when one of the elements consists of multiple words, such as "post–World War II era."

2. Em dash (—): The em dash is the longest of the three and is used to indicate a break or interruption in a sentence. It can be used to set off parenthetical statements, emphasize a point, or indicate an abrupt change in thought. For example, "I have three siblings—two sisters and a brother." Em dashes can replace parentheses, commas, or colons to provide emphasis or clarity in a sentence.

In summary, while a hyphen is used to join words or parts of words, dashes (en dash and em dash) have different functions. The en dash indicates a range or connection, while the em dash is used for breaks or interruptions in a sentence.