Hyphens and dashes are not used in writing very often, so it can be difficult to understand how to use them. The following is a quick rundown of when they are used most:
Hyphens are generally used to link words together, spell out numbers, and add prefixes to words.
Dashes are most often used to set off and emphasize phrases in sentences or avoid using too many commas closely together.
For more specific guidance and examples, please see the linked handout: