Post by jeannerené on Jun 2, 2007 21:28:00 GMT -8
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/hyphens.asp
HYPHENS
Authorities disagree on hyphenation more than on any other punctuation mark. Also, there are just too many rules for one human being to learn. Therefore, the following rules should be considered as guidelines only.
Hyphens Between Words
Rule 1. To check if a compound noun is two words, one word, or hyphenated, you may need to look it up in the dictionary. If you can't find the word in the dictionary, treat the noun as separate words.
Examples eyewitness, eye shadow, eye-opener
NOTE: All these words had to be looked up in the dictionary to know what to do with them!
Rule 2. Phrases that have both verb, noun, and adjective forms should appear as separate words when used as verbs and as one word when used as nouns or adjectives.
Examples
The engine will eventually break down. (verb)
We suffered a breakdown in communications. (noun)
Please clean up your room. (verb)
That Superfund site will require specialized cleanup procedures. (adjective)
Rule 3. Compound verbs are either hyphenated or appear as one word. If you do not find the verb in the dictionary, hyphenate it.
Examples
To air-condition the house will be costly.
We were notified that management will downsize the organization next year.
Rule 4. Generally, hyphenate between two or more adjectives when they come before a noun and act as a single idea.
Examples
his easy-going nature
BUT
By nature, he is easy going.
the one-way street
BUT
This street is one way.
bright young woman
No hyphen appears because bright and young are two separate ideas.
Rule 5. Remember to use a comma, not a hyphen, between two adjectives when you could have used and between them.
Example I have important, classified documents.
Rule 6. Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.
Examples
The teacher had thirty-two children in her classroom.
Only twenty of the children were bilingual.
Hyphens with ly Words
Rule 1. When the first word of the two-word modifier ends in ly, hyphenate if the ly word acts as one idea with the second word AND the ly word can be used alone with the noun, that is, the ly word is an adjective.
Examples friendly-looking man
A hyphen is used because friendly modifies looking and is an adjective describing man.
friendly little girl
No hyphen is used because friendly does not act as one idea with little.
brightly lit room
No hyphen is used because brightly is an adverb in that it describes lit (an adjective), not room, (a noun).
Rule 2. When the word and can be inserted between the ly word and the next adjective, use a comma between them.
Example A lovely, fragrant bouquet was sent to Jennifer on Valentine's Day.
Rule 3. When adverbs other than ly adverbs are used as compound words in front of a noun, hyphenate. When the combination of words is used after the noun, do not hyphenate.
Examples
The well-known actress accepted her award.
Well is an adverb followed by another descriptive word. They combine to form one idea in front of the noun.
The actress who accepted her award was well known.
Well known follows the noun it describes, so no hyphen is used.
A long-anticipated decision was finally made.
He had his much-needed haircut yesterday.
His haircut was much needed.
Hyphens with Prefixes
Rule 1. The current trend is to do away with unnecessary hyphens. Therefore, attach most prefixes and suffixes onto root words without a hyphen.
Example noncompliance, copayment, semiconscious, fortyish
Exception bell-like
Avoid three of any one letter in a row.
Exception non-civil service position Use the hyphen with compound words.
Rule 2. Hyphenate prefixes when they come before proper nouns.
Example un-American
Rule 3. Hyphenate prefixes ending in a or i only when the root word begins with an a or i.
Examples
ultra-ambitious
semi-invalid
Rule 4. When a prefix ends in one vowel and a root word begins with a different vowel, generally attach them without a hyphen.
Examples antiaircraft, proactive
Rule 5. Double e's and double o's are usually made into one word.
Examples preemployment, coordinate
Exceptions de-emphasize, co-owner
Rule 6. Hyphenate all words beginning with self except for selfish and selfless.
Examples self-assured, self-respect, self-addressed
Rule 7. Use a hyphen with the prefix ex.
Examples His ex-wife sued for nonsupport.
Hyphens with re Words
Rule 8. Use the hyphen with the prefix re only when:
the re means again
AND
omitting the hyphen would cause confusion with another word.
Examples Will she recover from her illness?
Re does not mean again.
I have re-covered the sofa twice.
Re does mean again
AND
omitting the hyphen would have caused confusion with another word.
The stamps have been reissued.
Re means again but would not cause confusion with another word.
I must re-press the shirt.
Re means again
AND
omitting the hyphen would have caused confusion with another word.
www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/hyphens.asp
HYPHENS
Authorities disagree on hyphenation more than on any other punctuation mark. Also, there are just too many rules for one human being to learn. Therefore, the following rules should be considered as guidelines only.
Hyphens Between Words
Rule 1. To check if a compound noun is two words, one word, or hyphenated, you may need to look it up in the dictionary. If you can't find the word in the dictionary, treat the noun as separate words.
Examples eyewitness, eye shadow, eye-opener
NOTE: All these words had to be looked up in the dictionary to know what to do with them!
Rule 2. Phrases that have both verb, noun, and adjective forms should appear as separate words when used as verbs and as one word when used as nouns or adjectives.
Examples
The engine will eventually break down. (verb)
We suffered a breakdown in communications. (noun)
Please clean up your room. (verb)
That Superfund site will require specialized cleanup procedures. (adjective)
Rule 3. Compound verbs are either hyphenated or appear as one word. If you do not find the verb in the dictionary, hyphenate it.
Examples
To air-condition the house will be costly.
We were notified that management will downsize the organization next year.
Rule 4. Generally, hyphenate between two or more adjectives when they come before a noun and act as a single idea.
Examples
his easy-going nature
BUT
By nature, he is easy going.
the one-way street
BUT
This street is one way.
bright young woman
No hyphen appears because bright and young are two separate ideas.
Rule 5. Remember to use a comma, not a hyphen, between two adjectives when you could have used and between them.
Example I have important, classified documents.
Rule 6. Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.
Examples
The teacher had thirty-two children in her classroom.
Only twenty of the children were bilingual.
Hyphens with ly Words
Rule 1. When the first word of the two-word modifier ends in ly, hyphenate if the ly word acts as one idea with the second word AND the ly word can be used alone with the noun, that is, the ly word is an adjective.
Examples friendly-looking man
A hyphen is used because friendly modifies looking and is an adjective describing man.
friendly little girl
No hyphen is used because friendly does not act as one idea with little.
brightly lit room
No hyphen is used because brightly is an adverb in that it describes lit (an adjective), not room, (a noun).
Rule 2. When the word and can be inserted between the ly word and the next adjective, use a comma between them.
Example A lovely, fragrant bouquet was sent to Jennifer on Valentine's Day.
Rule 3. When adverbs other than ly adverbs are used as compound words in front of a noun, hyphenate. When the combination of words is used after the noun, do not hyphenate.
Examples
The well-known actress accepted her award.
Well is an adverb followed by another descriptive word. They combine to form one idea in front of the noun.
The actress who accepted her award was well known.
Well known follows the noun it describes, so no hyphen is used.
A long-anticipated decision was finally made.
He had his much-needed haircut yesterday.
His haircut was much needed.
Hyphens with Prefixes
Rule 1. The current trend is to do away with unnecessary hyphens. Therefore, attach most prefixes and suffixes onto root words without a hyphen.
Example noncompliance, copayment, semiconscious, fortyish
Exception bell-like
Avoid three of any one letter in a row.
Exception non-civil service position Use the hyphen with compound words.
Rule 2. Hyphenate prefixes when they come before proper nouns.
Example un-American
Rule 3. Hyphenate prefixes ending in a or i only when the root word begins with an a or i.
Examples
ultra-ambitious
semi-invalid
Rule 4. When a prefix ends in one vowel and a root word begins with a different vowel, generally attach them without a hyphen.
Examples antiaircraft, proactive
Rule 5. Double e's and double o's are usually made into one word.
Examples preemployment, coordinate
Exceptions de-emphasize, co-owner
Rule 6. Hyphenate all words beginning with self except for selfish and selfless.
Examples self-assured, self-respect, self-addressed
Rule 7. Use a hyphen with the prefix ex.
Examples His ex-wife sued for nonsupport.
Hyphens with re Words
Rule 8. Use the hyphen with the prefix re only when:
the re means again
AND
omitting the hyphen would cause confusion with another word.
Examples Will she recover from her illness?
Re does not mean again.
I have re-covered the sofa twice.
Re does mean again
AND
omitting the hyphen would have caused confusion with another word.
The stamps have been reissued.
Re means again but would not cause confusion with another word.
I must re-press the shirt.
Re means again
AND
omitting the hyphen would have caused confusion with another word.
