Don’t use a hyphen when you are combining an adverb and a participle. There are two commandments about this misunderstood punctuation mark. A prefix (a, un, de, ab, sub, post, anti, etc.) Here are a few examples of common hyphenated compound words: Hyphenated words tend to become closed compounds (single words with no hyphens) over time. Use hyphens to join compound modifiers in which the second word is the present or past participle of a verb. Use a hyphen when the compound goes before the noun it modifies: Don’t use a hyphen when the compound comes after the noun it describes. She’s his ex-wife! (Or day, week, month, etc.). a twentieth century throwback. state-of-the-art design. English-language student (a student studying English, not an English speaking student studying language) 3. semi-independent (not *semiindependent) When writing out numbers with fractions, hyphenate only the fractions unless the construction is a compound adjective. Without the hyphen, the sentence seems to say that Springfield is a dreary place. 3:15–3:45 p.m.
Use a hyphen in a compound modifier when the modifier comes. Examples:
A hyphen is frequently required when forming original compound verbs for vivid writing, humor, or special situations. re-sign a petition (vs. resign … In this sentence, it sounds like you shouldn’t take down any load that is holding up a wall. Writing a dictionary is a never-ending task. Generally, you need the hyphen only if the two words are functioning together as an adjective before the noun they’re describing. A hyphen should be inserted between load and bearing to make it clear that we’re talking about walls that are bearing a load. Video gamer is clear without a hyphen, although some writers might prefer to hyphenate it. Hyphen: Definition and Usage in Grammar and Punctuation. Use a hyphen or use 2 separate words (check a dictionary) profit-taking, potato growing * The endings ‘-ing’ or ‘-ed’ show when the verb happened. However, hyphenate most double last names. Never hesitate to add a hyphen if it solves a possible problem. Over time, many hyphenated compounds become closed compounds—teen-ager became teenager for instance. Examples:
all-knowing. Second, there should not be spaces around hyphens. The hyphen (-), the shortest of the three marks, is familiar (sometimes wretchedly so) to most writers. Definition of Hyphen. The hyphen should not be confused with dashes (‒, –, —, ―), which are longer and have different uses, or with the minus sign (−) which is also longer. Double-check with a dictionary or online. When using numbers, hyphenate spans or estimates of time, distance, or other quantities. 300–325 people. If the noun comes first, leave the hyphen out. The room was like a heavily-decorated chocolate box. Rule 10. Correct: The sign is five and one-half feet long. Email instead of e-mail, for example, is increasingly common. Rule 2. (Typically used in "missing word" questions.) When using high or low as part of a compound adjective, use a hyphen when the compound comes before the noun it’s modifying. The hyphen (-), the shortest, is used to join multiple words that function together as a single concept, a.k.a. Lying on the floor beside the plant he had knocked over and chewed on, the cat looked extremely self-satisfied. When should you use a hyphen? Examples:
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