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Graphic Design vocabulary · Typography

Discretionary hyphen

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In graphic design, discretionary hyphen means: A hidden break opportunity that displays a hyphen only when the word breaks there.

In Turkish: koşullu tire

How it is used

Use to suggest a specific hyphenation point without inserting a permanent hyphen.

Example sentences

  1. Insert a discretionary hyphen where this long word can break naturally.

    The mark permits a break without changing the unbroken spelling.

  2. The discretionary hyphen disappeared when we widened the column.

    The hyphen is visible only when that break opportunity is used.

Common collocations

  • insert a discretionary hyphen
  • soft hyphen
  • body copyThe main, longer text of a design, such as paragraphs in a brochure or article, as opposed to headlines, captions and other short text.
  • widowA very short last line of a paragraph left alone, especially at the top of a new column or page, which looks untidy and breaks the reading flow.

More terms: Typography

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