--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This morning I deleted the hyphen from…" description: "\"This morning I deleted the hyphen from \"hell-bound\" and made it one word; this afternoon I redivided it and restored the hyphen.\" — Edwin Arlington Rob..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/edwin-arlington-robinson-16439_afternoon_this-morning-i-deleted-the-hyphen-from-h_3228418.jpg" --- # This morning I deleted the hyphen from "hell-bound" and… ![“This morning I deleted the hyphen from "hell-bound" and made it one word; this afternoon I redivided it and restored the hyphen.” quote by Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/edwin-arlington-robinson-16439_afternoon_this-morning-i-deleted-the-hyphen-from-h_3228418.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/edwin-arlington-robinson-16439_afternoon_this-morning-i-deleted-the-hyphen-from-h_3228418.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/edwin-arlington-robinson-16439_afternoon_this-morning-i-deleted-the-hyphen-from-h_3228418.jpg) > “This morning I deleted the hyphen from "hell-bound" and made it one word; this afternoon I redivided it and restored the hyphen.” [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author plays with language, showing how small punctuation changes can alter meaning and tone. **In simple terms:** Changing a hyphen changes a word’s feel. Key Takeaway Notice how punctuation shapes perception. Themes language creativity punctuation Mood playful reflective Type literary observational When to use this quote - writing - editing - proofreading - literary analysis Key Concepts semantics syntax Questions to Reflect On - How does punctuation affect your reading? - What does the hyphen symbolize? A Different Perspective Punctuation alone cannot fully convey intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afternoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afternoon/) [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Deleted Hyphen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deleted-hyphen-6097782/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Hyphen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hyphen-733571/) [Hyphen Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hyphen-hell-6097784/) [Hyphens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hyphens/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Made it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made-it/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [One word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-word/) [Redivided Restored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/redivided-restored-6097785/) [Restored Hyphen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restored-hyphen-6097783/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“The closest we can get to set hyphen rules are that the prefixes ex, self, and all always require hyphens while adverbs ending in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-baranick/the-closest-we-can-get-to-set-hyphen-rules-are-that-the-prefixes-ex/) [Jenny Baranick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-baranick/) > [Wouldn't the sentence 'I want to put a hyphen between the words Fish and And and And and Chips in my Fish-and-Chips sign' have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/wouldn-t-the-sentence-i-want-to-put-a-hyphen-between-the-words-fish/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [One must regard the hyphen as a blemish to be avoided wherever possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/one-must-regard-the-hyphen-as-a-blemish-to-be-avoided-wherever/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The only difference between resigning and resigning is a hyphen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarver/the-only-difference-between-resigning-and-resigning-is-a-hyphen/) [Tim McCarver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarver/) > [There are some men who in a fifty-fifty proposition insist on getting the hyphen too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/there-are-some-men-who-in-a-fifty-fifty-proposition-insist-on-getting/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some Americans need hyphens in their names, because only part of them has come over; but when the whole man has come over, heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/some-americans-need-hyphens-in-their-names-because-only-part-of-them-2/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Tea - that perfume that one drinks, that connecting hyphen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-clifford-barney/tea-that-perfume-that-one-drinks-that-connecting-hyphen/) [Natalie Clifford Barney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-clifford-barney/) > [Hollywood has 'The Body' Marie McDonald and 'The Look' Lauren Bacall and 'The Voice' Frank Sinatra. I'm 'The Dash' From my first contract on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-ellen/hollywood-has-the-body-marie-mcdonald-and-the-look-lauren-bacall-and/) [Vera-Ellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-ellen/) > [“We are a handful of dust in God’s image Before we return again to dusty grave Life isn’t a war, it’s a scrimmage A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-wetch/we-are-a-handful-of-dust-in-god-s-image-before-we-return-again-to/) [Justin Wetch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-wetch/) > [“As you can see, the hyphen is a nasty, tricky, evil little mark that gets its kicks igniting arguments in newsrooms and trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-casagrande/as-you-can-see-the-hyphen-is-a-nasty-tricky-evil-little-mark-that/) [June Casagrande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-casagrande/) > [“Sexy isn’t my middle name. Lust-factory is, with the hyphen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/sexy-isn-t-my-middle-name-lust-factory-is-with-the-hyphen/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I was Corinne Bailey. I added on Rae, my husband's name, when I got married. There's no hyphen. Stops it being posh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-was-corinne-bailey-i-added-on-rae-my-husband-s-name-when-i-got/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [“You realize that everything you think and feel now will be encompassed in the hyphen between two years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-harbison/you-realize-that-everything-you-think-and-feel-now-will-be/) [paige harbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-harbison/) > [“When we turned right on Thirty-fifth Street our suffix came along. By the time we rolled to the curb in front of Wolfe's house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/when-we-turned-right-on-thirty-fifth-street-our-suffix-came-along-by/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [Some Americans need hyphens in their names because only part of them has come over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/some-americans-need-hyphens-in-their-names-because-only-part-of-them/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## More by Edwin Arlington Robinson > [I am living on hope and faith ... a pretty good diet when the mind will receive them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/i-am-living-on-hope-and-faith-a-pretty-good-diet-when-the-mind-will/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [Life is the game that must be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/life-is-the-game-that-must-be-played/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [I cannot find my way: there is no star In all the shrouded heavens anywhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/i-cannot-find-my-way-there-is-no-star-in-all-the-shrouded-heavens/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [Ah, when shall come love's courage to be strong! Tell me, O Lord--tell me, O Lord, how long Are we to keep Christ writhing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/ah-when-shall-come-love-s-courage-to-be-strong-tell-me-o-lord-tell-me/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [The world is not a prison house but a kind of spiritual kindergarten where millions of bewildered infants are trying to spell God with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/the-world-is-not-a-prison-house-but-a-kind-of-spiritual-kindergarten/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [Were it not for love, Poor life would be a ship not worth launching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/were-it-not-for-love-poor-life-would-be-a-ship-not-worth-launching/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [The typical entrepreneur is no longer the bold and tireless man of Marshall, or the sly and rapacious Moneybags of Marx, but a mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/the-typical-entrepreneur-is-no-longer-the-bold-and-tireless-man-of/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [It is impossible to understand the economic system in which we are living if we try to interpret it as a rational scheme.It has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/it-is-impossible-to-understand-the-economic-system-in-which-we-are/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [Where's the need of singing now?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/where-s-the-need-of-singing-now/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [For through it all--above, beyond it all-- I know the far-sent message of the years, I feel the coming glory of the Light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/for-through-it-all-above-beyond-it-all-i-know-the-far-sent-message-of/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [And thus we all are nighing The truth we fear to know: Death will end our crying For friends that come and go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/and-thus-we-all-are-nighing-the-truth-we-fear-to-know-death-will-end/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [Youth sees too far to see how near it is To seeing farther.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/youth-sees-too-far-to-see-how-near-it-is-to-seeing-farther/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [For when a woman is left too much alone, sooner or later she begins to think; and no man knows what then she may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/for-when-a-woman-is-left-too-much-alone-sooner-or-later-she-begins-to/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [And we who delve in beauty's lore Know all that we have known before Of what inexorable cause Makes Time so vicious in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/and-we-who-delve-in-beauty-s-lore-know-all-that-we-have-known-before/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [“GO to the western gate, Luke Havergal,— There where the vines cling crimson on the wall,— And in the twilight wait for what will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/go-to-the-western-gate-luke-havergal-there-where-the-vines-cling/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) [Explore all 40 Edwin Arlington Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) ## More Afternoon quotes > [I didn't grow up thinking of movies as film, or art, but as movies, something to do on a Saturday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-of-movies-as-film-or-art-but-as-movies/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Honestly, I'm living my fantasy. It's being with my family, preferably on a snowy afternoon with a fire going, cuddled up in blankets, playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-vieira/honestly-i-m-living-my-fantasy-it-s-being-with-my-family-preferably/) [Meredith Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-vieira/) > [It was a very intense and stressful situation. There was playing in the Johnny-pump (an opened fire hydrant) and the ice-cream man coming around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/it-was-a-very-intense-and-stressful-situation-there-was-playing-in/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Sunday afternoon is for papers and writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-haslam/sunday-afternoon-is-for-papers-and-writing/) [Nicholas Haslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-haslam/) > [I think that if most guys in America could somehow get their fave-rave poster girl in bed and have total license to do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-think-that-if-most-guys-in-america-could-somehow-get-their-fave/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [At five in the afternoon. It was exactly five in the afternoon. A boy brought the white sheet at five in the afternoon. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-five-in-the-afternoon-it-was-exactly-five-in-the-afternoon-a-boy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The shadows in the early morning don't tell much. The shadows rest at that time. So it's useless to gaze very early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-shadows-in-the-early-morning-don-t-tell-much-the-shadows-rest-at/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“I discovered windows one afternoon and after that, nothing was ever the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-spollen/i-discovered-windows-one-afternoon-and-after-that-nothing-was-ever/) [Anne Spollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-spollen/) > [Look, science is hard, it has a reputation of being hard, and the facts are, it is hard, and that's the result of 400…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/look-science-is-hard-it-has-a-reputation-of-being-hard-and-the-facts/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon? 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