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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When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
Some words are written without hyphens (nonaggression, nonbeliever), and some words are written with a hyphen (well-intentioned). Is there a schema in the use of a hyphen?
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1answer
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To hyphenate or not?
As a non-native speaker of English and an engineer by training, I always get confused about hyphenation and almost always end up referring to Google every time I need to make that decision.
Does ...
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1answer
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When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
I generally know how to use a hyphen, but when should I use an en-dash instead of an em-dash, or when should I use a hyphen instead of an em-dash?
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4answers
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Should I use “ related” or “-related”
What is the correct use of the term "related?" For example, should I use it like computer related, or is it more proper to use computer-related (where the word "computer" is just part of my ...
14
votes
2answers
576 views
How to connect a word and a phrase with a hyphen?
For example, "file system" and "related". Is it "file system-related"? It will appear as if it is a compound of "file" and "system-related", won't it?
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5answers
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What is the standard rule for using or not using hyphen and diaeresis on the words like reelect , reexamine, and cooperate?
I found that diaeresis is used on the word, reelection in the following sentence of the article titled “Rational Irrationality” in the New Yorker magazine (April 27).
“This morning’s news that ...
2
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2answers
2k views
When is it appropriate to use a hyphen? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
To hyphenate or not?
What is the proper way to spell "side dish"?
Is it: "side dish" or "side-dish"?
Also,
Is it "ham-fried" or "ham fried"?
Basically, when do you use ...
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1answer
6k views
Do you capitalize both parts of a hyphenated word in a title?
Do you capitalize both parts of a hyphenated word in a title?
"My Ex-Wife Hates Me"
or
"My Ex-wife Hates Me"
3
votes
5answers
580 views
Use of hyphens when writing repeated compound words that have common parts
In my native language, Norwegian, one uses hyphens when stating two or more copulated compound words that has common parts (words). In a thesis I'm working on, should I write
test specimens, test ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I hyphenate an open-form compound word with another that should be hyphenated?
I'm confused about how to combine an open-form compound word with a word that would normally be hyphenated. There's excellent guidance for making the open vs. closed vs. hyphenated decision, but I ...
8
votes
2answers
260 views
Chainsaw-equipped or chainsaw equipped?
Is it chainsaw-equipped or chainsaw equipped? And with what kind of former words to use "-" properly?
13
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4answers
13k views
What are the rules for splitting words at the end of a line?
What are the rules in English language to split words at the end of a line?
Where exactly must the hyphen split the word?
10
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2answers
534 views
Is the use of a hyphen between “non” and an adjective strictly necessary?
Do I need to put a "-" between "non" and an adjective? As an example in physics we say "a non isolated photon", "non tight photon"... The context is very formal (paper publications and similar). Is ...
53
votes
14answers
6k views
“Email” or “e-mail”?
Which way of writing the word: "Email" or "e-mail" is correct? Both variants seem to be in wide use. If both ones are okay, maybe there is a difference in contexts they have been used (one is more ...
13
votes
5answers
4k views
Appropriate dash to use when attributing a quotation?
If I’m citing a poem or quotation, what kind of dash precedes the author’s name? Example:
This Business of Printing; which I am heartily tired of, and repent I e’er attempted. . . .
...
5
votes
3answers
846 views
Is it correct to write “a 5-mm-thick layer”?
Do I need hyphens? Should I use the indefinite article or zero article?
5
votes
3answers
556 views
Is there a grammar rule behind the hyphen in the phrase 'one-act play'?
I noticed that the phrase 'one-act play' always uses a hyphen between 'one' and 'act'.
Is there a grammar rule in play here, how does it work?
10
votes
1answer
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Can a hyphen be used without anything on the right side?
From this page:
[...] in early parts of this century when it was the most user- and hardware-friendly Linux operating system available [...]
Is the user- fragment valid (outside this ...
3
votes
3answers
297 views
“Hardware-counter-based tools” or “hardware-counter based tools”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
Chainsaw-equipped or chainsaw equipped?
How to connect a word and a phrase with a hyphen?
"One-Day Only Promotion" or "One-Day-Only Promotion"
...
3
votes
1answer
459 views
Multiple compound words [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to connect a word and a phrase with a dash?
Hello, I'm a non-native English speaker and I'm writing a scientific paper about biometric identification based on heart ...
0
votes
2answers
644 views
Hyphenation in compound adjectives [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
To hyphenate or not?
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
When is it appropriate to use a hyphen?
In the sentence "Portland is known to ...
8
votes
3answers
559 views
Using “non-” to prefix a two-word phrase
Does "non-" prefixed to a two word phrase permit another hyphen before the second word?
If I want to refer to an entity which is defined as the negation of another entity by attaching "non-" it seems ...
5
votes
3answers
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adding a prefix “re” to a word, with or without a hyphen?
In science we often invent words, but that doesn't mean we know how to spell them. Most of the time words are invented by adding prefixes. In that case should there be a hyphen or not? Specifically, I ...
2
votes
1answer
163 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
180 views
Doubly hyphenated words
Consider the word quasi-first-class. Are the hyphens used correctly? Should the two hyphens be of different length to denote the distinction of the hyphenation? Is there a general rule to deal with ...
2
votes
2answers
640 views
“One-Day Only Promotion” or “One-Day-Only Promotion”
A copywriter I'm working with wrote "One-Day Only Promotion" but my feeling is that "One-Day-Only Promotion" is correct. The first three words describe 'Promotion'. I know you don't hyphenate adverbs, ...
22
votes
5answers
951 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:
...
9
votes
2answers
29k views
How do I properly hyphenate “well thought out”?
Is it spelled well thought-out, or well-thought out, or well thought out?
8
votes
3answers
399 views
Different syllabic boundaries in various dictionaries?
Consider, for instance, the word "university":
American Heritage: u·ni·ver·si·ty
Collins Cobuild: uni|ver|sity
Merriam Webster: uni·ver·si·ty
As you see, syllabic boundaries differ.
I read ...
5
votes
2answers
719 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
214 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 ...
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3answers
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How does the hyphen change the meaning in expressions like “high performance” and “high-performance”?
I'm wondering about the distinction between expressions like "high performance" and "high-performance", or "high level" and "high-level" and other similar pairs of words which are sometimes used with ...
2
votes
1answer
200 views
Hyphenation of “balaclava”
Balaclava is hyphenated as:
bal-a-cla-va, according to the online edition of Merriam-Webster
ba-la-clava, according to the 1989 printed fourth edition of Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, ...
2
votes
4answers
376 views
How to write dashes in “a 2-4-room-apartment”?
I want to write in the announcement a description of an eventual apartment, which I am searching as a rental. I am interested in apartments with 2, 3, or 4 rooms. How should I write the compound ...
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vote
3answers
659 views
Using hyphenated words in technical writing?
I always get confused when using hyphenated words in my research papers. Is there any specific rule for using hyphenated words? For example, which one of the following is the correct usage of co ...
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votes
9answers
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“Username”, “user name” or “user-name”
In computer science, you should have a username or a user name or a user-name and a password to be able to log into the system.
Which one is the correct spelling?
11
votes
1answer
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Fractions as phrasal (compound) adjectives
Is there a difference between a written-out fraction that serves as a noun:
He gave me one half of his sandwich.
and a written-out fraction serving as an adjective:
I gave her a one-half ...
5
votes
3answers
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Use of comma separating two adjectives
If I had the phrase
two blond haired, blue eyed people
would the comma be out of place?
should I hyphenate "blond haired" and "blue eyed"?
3
votes
1answer
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“Logged-in”, “log-ined”, “login-ed”, “logined”, “log-in-ed”, “logged in”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“log in to” or “log into” or “login to”
This following question, where and how to append "-ed", is not addressed in thу "possible ...
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vote
3answers
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Hyphen or no hyphen when modifying an adjective with a quantity?
I have a sentence which has an object that is described with an adjective:
We need to inform our interested patrons of this change.
If I modify "educated" with "more" or "less", do I connect the ...
8
votes
5answers
319 views
Can word-hyphenation ever be semantically significant?
I was prompted by this question (difference between ecosystem and eco-system) to wonder whether word-hyphenation can ever be semantically significant.
My gut instinct is to say that since hyphenation ...
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votes
3answers
2k views
What do you call words that are separated by a hyphen?
What do you call words like one-note that are separated by a hyphen?
3
votes
2answers
551 views
Ways to write “2000 year old”
Which of the following are correct and which are wrong?
The 2000-year-old computer
The 2000 year-old computer
The 2000 year old computer
The 2000-years-old computer
The 2000 years-old computer
The ...
3
votes
3answers
839 views
“Stand up comedy”, “standup comedy”, or “stand-up comedy”?
I've seen all three versions for describing a person on stage performing comedy: "stand up", "standup", and "stand-up".
My guess is that the term started as two words, but as the performance form ...
3
votes
2answers
185 views
Repetition of hyphen in shared prefixes [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can a hyphen be used without anything on the right side?
I'm trying to discuss types of semiconductor, there is P-type and N-type. Assuming my hyphenation is correct, ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views
Should it be “mid 80s” or “mid-80s”?
When discussing temperatures or decades, should it be hyphenated?
I understood that two-word adjectives need to be hyphenated, but why does MS Word think this should be, too?
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4answers
873 views
What's up with the hyphen in “orang-utan”?
For most of my life 'till about a couple of years ago, I had only seen the spelling orangutan written to describe those delightful red-headed apes from the tropical forests of Borneo. Lately, though, ...
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vote
1answer
392 views
Hyphenation of “prerequisite”
I'm proofreading my thesis, and found that TeX in its infinite wisdom had decided to hyphenate prerequisite as pre-req-ui-site. I've replaced it with pre-re-qui-si-te, but I'm a bit unsure what the ...
0
votes
2answers
209 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 ...
