SEO experts- How does G treat a hyphen

[theshoe]

Rookie question right, but there's so many different opinions on this question. Anyone here can advise?

Is "weight-loss" (with hyphen) a different keyword than "weight loss" (without hyphen) in google search?

For example, could I outrank a PR4 site that was using "weight-loss" and I'm trying to rank for the keyword "weight loss"??

 

[operationoffers]

search engines treat hyphenated words the same as if they were not hyphenated. no edge in my opinion

 

[azgold]

G doesn't "see" punctuation like a hyphen is what I was told. So, like @operationoffers said - gives you no edge, either way.

 

[theshoe]

Thanks @operationoffers and @azgold. My keyword tools agree with your advice. I was looking for some kind of advantage for longtail kw's (5 words and longer)