How To Use Hyphens With Prefixes and Suffixes
| Use a Hyphen | Hyphen Examples |
| prefixes self-, all-, and ex- | self-esteem all-inclusive ex-girlfriend |
| prefixes and a noun that share a letter | re-energize meta-analysis anti-inflammat ... |
| prefixes before proper nouns or adjectiv ... | un-American mid-April post-Renaissance |
| suffixes -elect and -odd | mayor-elect president-elect twenty-odd |
- Use a hyphen at the end of a line to divide a word where there is not enough space for the whole word. ...
- Use a hyphen to indicate a word spelled out letter by letter. ...
- Use a hyphen to join two or more words to form compound adjectives that precede a noun. ...
- Use a hyphen to avoid awkward doubling of vowels.
What words should be hyphenated?
Where do you hyphenate words?
- Use a hyphen at the end of a line to divide a word where there is not enough space for the whole word.
- Use a hyphen to indicate a word spelled out letter by letter.
- Use a hyphen to join two or more words to form compound adjectives that precede a noun.
- Use a hyphen to avoid awkward doubling of vowels.
What are the rules for a hyphen?
Using hyphens with prefixes
- Hyphenate prefixes before proper nouns. Examples: un-American anti-Republican pre-Vietnam War mid-May
- Use a hyphen with most words that begin with the prefix self-. (Do not use a hyphen with the words "selfless" and "selfish.") Examples: self-control self-respect self-check
- Use a hyphen with words that begin with the prefix ex-. ...
How to properly use a hyphen?
Separated by a Common Line—The Hyphen as a Well-known Grammar Challenge
- The Infamous Hyphen. ...
- Hyphenated Numbers and Fractions (Numerals) Try to remember to hyphenate when spelling out numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine. ...
- Compound Adjectives with Hyphens. ...
- Compound Nouns with and without Hyphens. ...
- Hyphenated Phrases With More Than One Hyphen. ...
- Hyphenating Verbs Modifies Their Meaning. ...
- Non-Mandatory Use of the Hyphen. ...
How to know when to use a hyphen?
You also use hyphens:
- with prefixes that come before a word that needs a capital letter, like “anti-American”
- when separating words with the same three letters in a row, such as “fall-like”
- when writing numbers twenty-one through ninety-nine, such as thirty-eight* ninety-nine twenty-five
- when joining letters and words, like “X-ray” and “A-frame”
What words should be hyphenated?
Generally, you need the hyphen only if the two or more words are functioning together as an adjective before the noun they're describing. If the noun comes first, leave the hyphen out. This wall is load bearing. It's impossible to eat this cake because it is rock hard.
What is hyphenation example?
A hyphen is used: To join the words of a compound adjective (e.g., "five-page" document) To join the words of compound noun (e.g., "cooking-oil") To join a prefix to a word (e.g., "re-examine").
What words should not be hyphenated?
Attributive compound adjectives are hyphenated. Never hyphenate compounds including an adverb (generally, a word ending in 'ly'), whether attributive or predicative. 'carefully laid plans' not 'carefully-laid plans'. 'The acting, direction, script and plot were terrible, but at least the wardrobe was high quality.
What are the six uses for a hyphen?
Hyphens have six uses: (1) To join the words in a compound adjective. (2) To join the words in a compound noun. (3) To join a prefix to a word.
How do you use dashes and hyphens correctly?
A hyphen joins two or more words together while a dash separates words into parenthetical statements. The two are sometimes confused because they look so similar, but their usage is different. Hyphens are not separated by spaces, while a dash has a space on either side.
How do you hyphenate two sentences?
Most commonly, a dash connects an independent clause with another, with a related thought plus a conjunction like or, but, yet, as, for, and after the second dash. The dash works somewhat like parentheses or commas, but it is used where a stronger punctuation is needed.
When should a compound word be hyphenated?
In a temporary compound that is used as an adjective before a noun, use a hyphen if the term can be misread or if the term expresses a single thought (i.e., all words together modify the noun).
Why do we hyphenate words?
Hyphens' main purpose is to glue words together. They notify the reader that two or more elements in a sentence are linked. Although there are rules and customs governing hyphens, there are also situations when writers must decide whether to add them for clarity.
How do you hyphenate three words?
Trigrams are sets of three words that are hyphenated. When you use three words together as a single thought describing or modifying a noun and you put them before the noun, you should hyphenate them: It was a matter-of-fact decision.
Hyphen With Compound Modifiers: Two-Word Adjectives Before Nouns
Using hyphens to connect words is easy. Picking the right words to connect is a little harder. Let’s start with compound modifiers.A compound modif...
Hyphenated Compound Words
Hyphenated compound words are the ones (obviously) with a hyphen between the words. Over time, many hyphenated compounds become closed compounds—te...
Hyphen With Prefixes: ex-, Self-, All-
Use a hyphen with the prefix ex- (meaning former).Use a hyphen with the reflexive prefix self-.Make sure you don’t confuse the prefix self- with th...
When do you hyphenate two or more words?
Generally, hyphenate two or more words when they come before a noun they modify and act as a single idea. This is called a compound adjective. Examples: an off-campus apartment. state-of-the-art design. When a compound adjective follows a noun, a hyphen is usually not necessary. Example: The apartment is off campus.
What is the hyphen in a cafe?
Correct: a family-owned cafe. Rule 4. Hyphens are often used to tell the ages of people and things. A handy rule, whether writing about years, months, or any other period of time, is to use hyphens unless the period of time (years, months, weeks, days) is written in plural form: With hyphens:
What is a suffix for a word?
Hyphens with Suffixes. A suffix ( y, er, ism, able, etc.) is a letter or set of letters that follows a root word. Suffixes form new words or alter the original word to perform a different task. For example, the noun scandal can be made into the adjective scandalous by adding the suffix ous.
How to type en dash on a Mac?
Here is how to type an en dash: On a PC, hold down the ALT key and type 0150 on the numeric keypad located on the far right of the keyboard . On a Mac, hold down the Option key and type the minus sign located at the top of the keyboard. Rule 7. Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.
Can hyphens be used with dashes?
First, hyphens must never be used interchangeably with dashes (see the Dashes section), which are noticeably longer. Second, there should not be spaces around hyphens.
Do you use a hyphen in a style guide?
Some style guides for everyday communication (e.g., newspapers), such as The Associated Press Stylebook, advise to use the hyphen for number ranges. Some style guides for more-formal content (e.g., published books), such as The Chicago Manual of Style, advise to use the slightly longer en dash instead of a hyphen.
Is there a hyphen in Springfield?
Never hesitate to add a hyphen if it solves a possible problem. Following are two examples of well-advised hyphens: Confusing: Springfield has little town charm. With hyphen: Springfield has little-town charm. Without the hyphen, the sentence seems to say that Springfield is a dreary place.
How to use hyphens in writing?
Part of understanding how to use a hyphen involves studying compound words. Take some time to review with fun exercises for compound words so you can properly use a hyphen when the situation calls for one. It may take a little practice, but learning the basic hyphen rules will help you become a better writer. Like all aspects of English grammar, hyphen rules are there for a reason, and they also have some exceptions. Learn how to use a hyphen properly to make your writing more professional.
When to use hyphens in a sentence?
You should also use a hyphen when the suffix starts with the same letter or sound that ends the root word, as in these examples: The pitcher has a drip-proof lid. Her skirt had a bell-like shape. They followed a wheel barrow-wide path.
What is the rule for compound words?
Rule 2: Hyphenate Compound Words That Are Not Combined. Many compound words are combined or “closed” into a single word, such as “bookcase” and “racecar.”. However, there are also many compound adjectives and words that are not combined, and these often use a hyphen to show they are related.
Why do you use a hyphen in a letter?
Rule 6: Use a Hyphen to Avoid Confusion. If the word you are writing may be confusing without a hyphen, you should err on the side of adding one. You can see why a hyphen helps keep the meaning clear in these examples: The musician re-signed his contract. The musician resigned his contract. I re-sent the letter.
When to use hyphens in a word?
Rule 1: Use a Hyphen for Two-Word Modifiers Before Nouns. When a modifier consists of two words that join together to describe a noun, you need to use a hyphen. There are a few key things to keep in mind here: The two-word modifier needs to come before the noun.
Do you need to use a two word modifier before a noun?
The two-word modifier needs to come before the noun. Both words need to function together to describe the noun. Neither word should be an adverb ending in “ly.”. It’s easier to understand this hyphen rule if you see it used. Check out these examples:
Do you need a hyphen for a suffix?
Most suffixes don’t require a hyphen and simply join up as part of the root word. However, there are a few suffixes that need to be hyphenated, including -elect, -style, -based, and -free. You can see them in these examples:
When do you hyphenate adverbs?
When adverbs not ending in –ly are used as compound words in front of a noun, hyphenate the words. When the combination of words is used after the noun, do not hyphenate the words.
When do you hyphenate two adjectives?
Most often, you will hyphenate between two or more adjectives when they come before a noun and act as a single idea. This is the most common use of the hyphen.
What is a hyphen?
Hyphens are used to combine words or parts of words, and can be placed in front of a word that is either being combined with an already hyphenated word or separating two different words.
Rules for Hyphen Use
The writing reference Chicago Manual of Style includes an extensive chart that lists numerous types of phrases that should be hyphenated, as well as phrases that should not have hyphens.
How to use a hyphen in a sentence?
Use a hyphen to divide words at the end of a line if necessary, and make the break only between syllables: pref -er-ence. sell-ing. in-di-vid-u-al-ist. For line breaks, divide already-hyphenated words only at the hyphen: mass-. produced. self-. conscious.
When to use hyphens in a word?
Use a hyphen to join two or more words serving as a single adjective before a noun: a one-way street. chocolate-covered peanuts. well-known author. However, when compound modifiers come after a noun, they are not hyphenated: The peanuts were chocolate covered.
What are two words that are written together as a compound?
Two words brought together as a compound may be written separately, written as one word, or connected by hyphens . For example, three modern dictionaries all have the same listings for the following compounds: hair stylist. hairsplitter. hair-raiser. Another modern dictionary, however, lists hairstylist, not hair stylist.
When a compound is usually left open is used to modify another noun, that compound will usually take a
For example, when a compound that is usually left open is used to modify another noun, that compound will usually take a hyphen. So you can speak of a person who loves science fiction going to a science-fiction convention. Same with a video-game collector, a food-truck business, a pet-store employee, or even adjectives made from phrases, like made-for-TV movie or over-the-counter medication.
Is there a compound style that is not in use?
Absence of a particular compound style in the dictionary doesn't mean it's not in use; it only means it's much less common. Historically, a lot of compounds follow the pattern of entering English as open compounds, then gradually take on hyphenation and eventually a closed form as they become more familiar.
Is "sun-bleached" hyphenated?
Compounds are also frequently hyphenated in compound adjectives like "funny-looking" or "sun-bleached," but are typically left open when the first element is an adverb, as in "lightly salted peanuts.". In many cases, though, styling is a question of taste and tradition.
Is a compound word only one form?
For much of the dictionary’s history, a compound word was shown in only one form—closed, hyphenated, or open—even if there were examples of two or, sometimes, all three forms in use. This practice was necessitated by the limitations of page space: it simply wasn’t practical to show all of the possible permutations of a compound word at the expense of other information in a print dictionary entry. You saw only one styling—the one that occurred most frequently within a sample of evidence. If that evidence changed, then the headword was revised.
Is baseball a hyphen?
As the sport took hold in the American consciousness, it gradually began to be spelled with a hyphen ( base-ball ), but now any form other than the solid compound baseball looks like an affectation.
Do compound words have hyphens?
What to Know. Compound words often change their styling over time, with many starting open, then being hyphenated, and finally settling into closed form. For example, the closed compound "baseball" began with open styling as "base ball," and for a time was styled with a hyphen as "base-ball.". Compound words can also change styling depending on ...
How to hyphenate in Word?
You can access the hyphenation menu in the Layout Tab of Microsoft Word. Choose Automatic from the drop-down menu to turn on Automatic Hyphenation. Turning on automatic hyphenation will set Microsoft Word to hyphenate based on its internal dictionary, and the preferences you set in the hyphenation options.
How to get hyphenation menu in LibreOffice?
You can access the Hyphenation Menu in LibreOffice by choosing Format -> Paragraph and selecting the Text Flow tab at the top of the Paragraph Options Window. If you are changing existing text, make sure to highlight it before opening the menu.
How many letters after a vowel?
There is a minimum of three letters after the break. Again, that means that for a two-syllable word, the second syllable must have at least three letters, or you cannot break the word. CMOS prefers to break a word after a vowel, unless that would disagree with the word’s pronunciation.
How many letters before a CMOS word?
Remember to base word breaks on the pronunciation, not the prefixes, suffixes, or roots that make up the word. There is a minimum of two letters before the break. That means if the first syllable of a two-syllable word doesn’t have at least two letters, you can’t break the word.
Does Google Docs have hyphens?
After learning that Google Docs doesn’t offer automatic hyphenation, however, I realized it was even more important for some readers to learn how to do hyphenated word breaks. Just remember, you only want to add word breaks in a final document intended for printing.
Can you hyphenate a word that is split into two lines?
Today, I’m going to look at how to properly hyphenate a word that is split between two lines. Some word processors, like Microsoft Word and LibreOffice, have an option to break words into two lines automatically. However, just because your word processor will do word breaks does not mean that it will do them correctly.
Can you break a proper noun in CMOS?
Proper Nouns ( CMOS 7.42) Try not to break proper nouns. It is preferable to put the entire name on one line, but if you must, break at a space, especially after an initial. Under no circumstances should you separate Jr., Sr., II., III., etc. from the rest of the name with a line break.
What does hyphenation mean in a word?
The hyphen may be used between vowel letters (e.g., ee, ea, ei) to indicate that they do not form a digraph. Some words have both hyphenated and unhyphenated variants: de-escalate/deescalate, co-operation/cooperation, re-examine/reexamine, de-emphasize/deemphasize, and so on.
What is a hyphen in spelling?
Syllabification and spelling. Hyphens are occasionally used to denote syllabification , as in syl-la-bi-fi-ca-tion. Various British and North American dictionaries use an interpunct, sometimes called a "middle dot" or "hyphenation point", for this purpose, as in syl·la·bi·fi·ca·tion.
Why do we use hyphens in words?
Similarly, hyphens may be used to indicate how a word is being or should be spelled. For example, W-O-R-D spells "word" .
What is a non breaking hyphen?
Non-breaking hyphen. Hebrew maqaf. The hyphen ‐ is a punctuation mark used to join words and to separate syllables of a single word. The use of hyphens is called hyphenation. Son-in-law is an example of a hyphenated word. The hyphen is sometimes confused with dashes ( figure dash ‒, en dash –, em dash —, horizontal bar ― ), ...
When to use suspended hyphen?
A suspended hyphen (also called a suspensive hyphen or hanging hyphen, or less commonly a dangling or floating hyphen) may be used when a single base word is used with separate, consecutive, hyphenated words that are connected by "and", "or", or "to". For example, short-term and long-term plans may be written as short- and long-term plans. This usage is now common and specifically recommended in some style guides. Suspended hyphens are also used, though less commonly, when the base word comes first, such as in "investor-owned and -operated ". Uses such as "applied and sociolinguistics" (instead of "applied linguistics and sociolinguistics") are frowned upon; the Indiana University style guide uses this example and says "Do not 'take a shortcut' when the first expression is ordinarily open" (i.e., ordinarily two separate words). This is different, however, from instances where prefixes that are normally closed up (styled solidly) are used suspensively. For example, preoperative and postoperative becomes pre- and postoperative (not pre- and post-operative) when suspended. Some editors prefer to avoid suspending such pairs, choosing instead to write out both words in full.
When did the hyphen start?
The modern format of the hyphen originated with Johannes Gutenberg of Mainz, Germany, c. 1455 with the publication of his 42-line Bible.
Is hyphen a single entity?
As an orthographic concept the hyphen is a single entity. In terms of character encoding and display, it is represented by any of several characters and glyphs including the Unicode hyphen (shown at the top of the infobox above), the hyphen-minus, the soft (optional) hyphen, and the non-breaking hyphen.