A hyphen is a symbol used to join two words or two syllables of a single word together. It is not to be confused with dashes or the minus symbol, as these are all longer than the hyphen and serve different purposes in language.
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2answers
36 views
How do you hyphenate 'luminous' over 2 verse lines, 'lumi-nous' or 'lumin-ous'? Help
How do you hyphenate 'luminous' over two verse lines, 'lumi-nous' or 'lumin-ous'? Help.
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1answer
69 views
Hypernym for injured and dead
I'm working on some project that deals with natural disasters. I need to find the most proper word that can be used to refer to someone who either was injured or died in a disaster.
Can I use ...
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2answers
64 views
How to hyphenate “Churchill”?
How should "Churchill" be hyphenated when it breaks across two lines?
Chu-rchill,
Chur-chill,
Churc-hill, or
Church-ill?
3
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1answer
59 views
How to use hyphens appropriately when listing multiple hyphenated terms?
If multiple hyphenated terms share the same latter half, and I wish to list them without repeating that latter half, how should the hyphens be placed?
For example:
"I will be investigating ...
0
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1answer
52 views
Should the words “much needed” be hyphenated or not? [duplicate]
Here's an example of what I mean:
"It's time for some much needed rest and relaxation."
Or should it be:
"It's time for some much-needed rest and relaxation."
2
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1answer
98 views
Is it preferable to generally use nested prepositional phrases or a hyphenated adjectival phrase?
I've recently run into some sticky situations involving how to write out complicated concept descriptions. Take this example:
Which metrics are appropriate for evaluating the accuracy of a ...
2
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1answer
37 views
Hyphen in physical quantities before nouns?
In cases where a physical quantity (consisting of a number and a unit) is used like an adjective to describe a property of an object, should it be written with or without a hyphen between the number ...
-1
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0answers
27 views
plural of composite words, with hyphen [duplicate]
Is it correct (and if yes, why) to write:
"the 3-body problem", and not "3-bodies"
"a N-particle Hamiltonian" and not "N-particles"
"a two-man job" and not "two-men"
"a three-stage algorithm", and ...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Is it good style to factor out the common root word of two (or more) prefixed compound words?
I see sometimes in conjunciton or disjunction, the common root of two or more compound words are factored out, for example, "super- and sub-script" (maybe bad example, but it suffices to describe the ...
0
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1answer
39 views
Sub edge, sub-edge or subedge?
In fields like geometry and numerical methods for solving differential equations we often use words like sub-face and sub-edge, referring to parts of a geometrical object. For instance, a cube has 6 ...
1
vote
2answers
100 views
Should you use en dashes in acronyms?
For terms like liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry that typically use an en dash rather than a hyphen, would an en dash still be used in the acronym, LC–MS? Or would we only need a hyphen there, ...
1
vote
2answers
133 views
reestablish vs. re-establish
Which form of this word is more appropriate for general use?
I would expect someone to misread reestablish more often than re-establish, however it is more consistent in context with renew, ...
3
votes
2answers
201 views
Correct usage of “all expenses paid”
I am confused on how to properly describe an all expense paid vacation.
Is it an all expenses paid vacation or an all expense paid vacation, and are there any hyphens between all, expense or ...
2
votes
3answers
100 views
Slash or hyphen in constructions that imply a combination?
Would you use hyphens or slashes in constructions that imply a combination? Examples:
A yard group / yard steering conflict (meaning a conflict between a yard group and yard steering)
A building ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
How many hyphens are appropriate in “Vietnam war veteran turned performing artist Joe Smith”? [duplicate]
How many hyphens should there be in this phrase?
Vietnam war veteran turned performing artist Joe Smith
0
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1answer
130 views
Is it “interest free” or “interest-free” when describing a loan without an interest rate? [duplicate]
I watched a clip a show shown on TruTV about a woman who was angry about not having been offered free cash for thirty days. According to the receptionist in the financial services place she was in, ...
1
vote
1answer
127 views
How do I write 'first and second order' properly?
I am writing about first-order and second-order quantities. Should I put one hyphen, as in
"first and second-order",
or two, as in
"first- and second-order".
Or should I do something ...
0
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2answers
55 views
“Multi-column” or “multicolumn”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
To hyphenate or not?
Which is the proper one? I mainly use this term in computer terminology, like "grid multicolumn sorting".
2
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2answers
134 views
Hyphenation of non-combat-related injury
As I understand it, we are to hyphenate phrases which consist of several adjectives strung together to form a single thought. I would, therefore, assume "non-combat-related injury" is the proper ...
3
votes
2answers
185 views
When to use a hyphen to coin a new word and when to omit a hypen?
Someone has asked for answer to these topics. However, I still want someone to provide me with simple and universal answers. I recently read a sentence from the English-speaking person. It is in an ...
0
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1answer
38 views
Game-development-oriented or game development-oriented? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to connect a word and a phrase with a hyphen?
“Hardware-counter-based tools” or “hardware-counter based tools”?
As the title states, which is the correct hyphenation ...
7
votes
1answer
169 views
Hyphenation and capitalization of “Great-Uncle” when signing books to my nephew's son
When great-uncle is used as a common noun, the hyphen and lack of caps make sense. However, when I sign a book to my nephew, is it Great-Uncle Don, Great-uncle Don, or perhaps Great Uncle Don?
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2answers
120 views
Is it acceptable to italicize a compound descriptor instead of hyphenating it?
I'm having a disagreement about how to treat a compound descriptor like "This is one of those everyone-shut-up-and-go-away kind of days."
It has been claimed to me that this descriptor can just as ...
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0answers
21 views
Capitalisation of hyphenated words in title [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Do you capitalize both parts of a hyphenated word in a title?
I contribute to a journal with a policy of capitalisation of the article titles. My title is ...
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1answer
135 views
Hyphen usage. Mono-channel and multi-channel or monochannel and multichannel? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
While writing a technical paper about fiber optics this question about hyphens came out.
Should this ...
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4answers
154 views
Is it usual to use “full-cry” as a stand-alone adjective?
Maureen Dowd’s article titled “Spellbound by Blondes, Hot and Icy” appearing in December 1st NY-Times jumps from Alfred Hitchcock’s favor of blonde actresses to the dispute of Hillary Clinton’s ...
3
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1answer
163 views
Hyphenation or blending
Are there any rules when to write a set of two (or more) words or abbreviations forming a name of some entity as separate, when to hyphenate, and when to stick them together?
These are my findings ...
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2answers
110 views
Should “no longer” have a hyphen?
I have always put a hyphen in the fragment "no-longer X", but neither the BBC website or the Economist seem to put one in. I always thought that
The piece of string was no longer than five inches.
...
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0answers
20 views
“Simple to use” or “simple-to-use”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Should I use “ related” or “-related”
I am not sure which one of these two forms is the correct one: "simple to use" or "simple-to-use".
My hypothesis is that depends ...
0
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0answers
37 views
Proper punctuation of “three to five page essay” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to write dashes in “a 2-4-room-apartment”?
Which is the best way to write the quotation in the Question Title using numbers?
3–5-page essay
3 to 5-page essay
3–5 ...
2
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3answers
233 views
Is it “thousands of postmen and women” or “thousands of postmen and -women”?
Is it "thousands of postmen and women" or "thousands of postmen and -women"? Is the use of a hyphen correct in the latter case?
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1answer
371 views
When to hyphenate open-form compound nouns [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How do I hyphenate an open-form compound word with another that should be hyphenated?
I am taking an editing course, and the instructor said that the following phrase ...
2
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1answer
401 views
When adding prefixes to noun phrases, should you hyphenate? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
Using “non-” to prefix a two-word phrase
When adding a prefix to a noun, I've been taught to usually ...
0
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0answers
22 views
When do I use a suspended hyphen? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Use of hyphens when writing repeated compound words that have common parts
When is the use of a suspended hyphen correct? Only in cases were the last part of the ...
2
votes
2answers
200 views
“On or off campus” vs. “On- or off-campus” vs. “On-campus or off-campus”
It does not matter if a student lives __ as ...
I'm writing a formal report. Which of the following should I use to fill in the blank? Which one is correct and more formal and looks/sounds ...
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1answer
131 views
“The ten word story” or “The ten-word story”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Hyphenation in compound adjectives
Does one need to hyphenate, e.g.: "The ten word story" or "The ten-word story"?
I can see why one might need to hyphenate in the ...
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2answers
180 views
Usage of hyphens with numeric measurements
What is correct:
two 1-Gb links;
two 1 Gb links; or
two 1Gb links?
I suspect the first, however I do not know the name of this situation, which makes it difficult to for me to find via Google. I ...
0
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1answer
85 views
Why does the writer use multiple hyphens? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is a lengthy combination of words with hyphens like “the worst not-technically-in-a-recession year in American history” a new fashion of writing?
But I have found ...
1
vote
1answer
754 views
“40-50 years old” vs. “40-50 year olds” when referring to a group
In formal research, which is more correct, and why:
the group of 40-50 years old
OR
the group of 40-50 year olds
In any case the phrase in bold is to be treated as a noun only, as in:
The ...
1
vote
3answers
113 views
1D vs. one-dimensional vs. 1-dimensional?
In much of the scientific literature, the words 1D, one-dimensional, 1-dimensional, and 1-D occur frequently. Which of these is the best practice? Are there general principles for deciding which is ...
2
votes
2answers
288 views
Hyphens after the prefixes “non-” and “anti-” in mathematics
Is there a convention when to attach the prefixes non- and anti- to mathematical terms using a hyphen and when without?
One uses non-zero but also noncommutative.
Likewise for anti-. I no longer ...
2
votes
1answer
490 views
Should I say “3 half days” or “3 half-days” or “3 half-day”?
Should I say "3 half days" or "3 half-days" or "3 half-day"? I mean I want to refer to, for example, the a.m. of Monday, the p.m. of Wednesday, and the a.m. of Friday, together.
4
votes
1answer
142 views
Breaking last word in the lines [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are the rules for splitting words at the end of a line?
In printed texts, especially those with narrow columns, it's necessary from time to time to divide the last ...
5
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2answers
638 views
Hyphens in verb construction containing prefix such as “re”
In semi-formal business writing in the United States, I often observe that writers tend to add a hyphen between a prefix and the root infinitive of verbs. In many of the cases, the resulting verb ...
2
votes
1answer
147 views
Using hyphen and quote marks in composed term? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
I want to write a term composed out of multiple words, and I would like to know whether I have to use ...
22
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5answers
928 views
Is a lengthy combination of words with hyphens like “the worst not-technically-in-a-recession year in American history” a new fashion of writing?
I found a hyphenated word , “not-technically–in-a-recession” in the sentence of September 28 New York Times’ article titled “Why Obama Is Winning,” written by co-ed columnist, Ross Douthat. It reads:
...
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votes
1answer
349 views
Are hyphens used for phrases like “more or less”? [closed]
Are dashes used for phrases like "more or less"?
0
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0answers
20 views
“Troubleshooting”, “trouble-shooting”, or “trouble shooting”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
To hyphenate or not?
Which versions are correct, "troubleshooting", "trouble-shooting", or "trouble ...
-5
votes
2answers
159 views
Should “forty-year” in this context be hyphenated? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Pluralization rule for “five-year-old children”, “20 pound note”, “10 mile run”
Mr. Willow’s more than forty-year experience in ...
0
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2answers
89 views
“Inward-pointing” or “inward pointing” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
To hyphenate or not?
Which one is correct?
The normal vector we mean is the inward-pointing ...
