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Dive into the intricacies of hyphen usage in contemporary language evolution, from forming compound words to avoiding visual confusion. Learn when to hyphenate modifiers, numbers, prefixes, and more with practical examples and guidelines.
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Open Writing Lab Hyphens **use is continually evolving check! 28.10.2011 CGB
Using hyphens … • Language in transition: • 2 words often used together • used with a hyphen • becomes a compound word sea floor sea-floor seafloor deep sea deep-sea deepsea health care health-care healthcare
Using hyphens … 2. When 2 or more words form a single adjective or noun: red-haired, know-it-all, round-the-island, light-year, has-been, well-known, well-established He was well known. / The well-known professor … The rule was well established. / … breaking the well-established rule NB. The book cost ten dollars. It was a ten-dollar book.
Using hyphens … 3. When there are several modifiers, to make the meaning less ambiguous: low-frequency amplitudes, low- and high-frequency amplitudes
Using hyphens … 4. Modifiers with numbers and units: 5-g dose, 50-km radius **3-year-old child
Using hyphens … 5. Sometimes with prefixes: ex- self- all- pre- quasi- pre-Columbian, sub-Saharan Africa, self-inflicted **In scientific writing more common to nonhyphenate cooperate, coordinate
Using hyphens … 6. When there is a potential for visual confusions because of repeated letters: meta-analysis shell-like semi-independent micro-organisms
Using hyphens … 7. Sometimes verbs need hyphens to indicate correct meaning: He re-covered the explored well. / He recovered quickly from the race. Such patients are usually re-treated. / The water retreated from the structures.
Using hyphens … 8. E-terms: where “e” stands for “electronic” e-mail, e-commerce
Or not using hyphens … 1. When a compound modifier contains an adverb that ends in –ly, the two words are never hyphenated. highly motivated, easily distracted
Or not using hyphens … 2. Some well-established terms drop the hyphen: freezing point determination, amino acid residues, …
Or not using hyphens … 3. For Latin phrases used adjectivally: a post hoc hypothesis in vitro testing a quid pro quo arrangement
Or not using hyphens … 4. For letters used as modifiers in scientific terms: LE cells / LE-cell rosettes T lymphocytes / T-cell lymphocyte functions
Or not using hyphens … 5. Compound modifiers involving a comparative or superlative adjective: better adjusted children least favourable outcome
More … http://folk.uib.no/gmset/writing/practical_tips/hyphens.html CGB’s Open Writing Lab http://folk.uib.no/gmset/writing/open_writing_lab.html