Hyphen Rules | Rule 5: Hyphenate Compound Numbers And Fractions

Hyphenated adjectives - usually called compound adjectives - are two words joined together with a hyphen, that modify a noun. As a writer, how often do you use a thesaurus? Compound adjectives should be hyphenated if there is any possibility of misunderstanding without the hyphen.Compound modifiers describe the noun that follows with greater precision. But hyphens don't When using these adverbs to create a compound modifier, do not use a hyphen. Examples The University of Iowa style guide says that modifiers with well should always be hyphenated.Hyphenated compounds use hyphens between the words. Compound nouns are the easiest to deal with: most of them can be looked up in a good dictionary. Two or more words that collectively act as an adjective should be hyphenated when they appear immediately before the noun they modify.Using a hyphen in a compound noun shows the words are the same grammatical entity, and it eliminates reading stutter or ambiguity. If the one-word version of a compound noun exists, then you should use it. Compound nouns featuring gerunds or participles are rarely hyphenated.For example, make a compound word out of North, America, and based. North America is open The Chicago Manual prefers a spare hyphenation style; their guideline is "hyphenate only if doing so will aid Far and away the most common spelling questions for writers and editors concern compound...

How to use a hyphen after adverbs? - The Grammar Guide

When to Hyphenate a Compound Modifier. A compound modifier is formed when multiple words come together to describe a subsequent noun. We add a hyphen (or hyphens) to the mix to clarify this, as the meaning of a sentence can sometimes change or be obscured depending on how the...To hyphenate or not---tips for spelling compound words, including compound adjectives before a noun. Use The Chicago Manual of Style's hyphenation table. The spelling of compound words is one of those not-so-sexy but majorly useful topics that writers should have a handle on.Don't hyphenate a predicate adjective (an adjective that complements the subject of a sentence and follows a linking verb) unless the Microsoft Writing Style Guide specifically recommends it. Check the A-Z word list to find out. Examples The text is left aligned. The camera is built in....hyphenate a compound modifier that a. contains an adverb ending in -ly. b. comes after the noun it modifies. c. comes before the noun it modifies hyphenate a compound modifier that a. contains an adverb ending in -ly. b. comes after the noun it modifies. c. comes before the noun it modifies. d...

Hyphen | The Punctuation Guide | Forming compounds with an en dash

Compound modifiers are special kinds of modifiers connected with a hyphen. Learn how to correctly hyphenate compound modifiers in this brief guide. A compound modifier consists of two words connected by a hyphen, which act together like one adjective.Click here to get an answer to your question A writer should hyphenate a compound modifier that. As you can see, the modifier two-faced is hyphenated, first of all because it is compound (meaning that it has more than one word), and second of all because it comes before the...Provides APA Style guidelines on using hyphens in compound words. Most compound adjective rules are applicable only when the compound adjective precedes the term it modifies. If a compound adjective follows the term, do not use a hyphen, because relationships are sufficiently clear without...When writing out new, original, or unusual compound nouns, writers should hyphenate whenever doing so avoids confusion. Rule 8b. When writing out numbers with fractions, hyphenate only the fractions unless the construction is a compound adjective.One hyphenation rule that you can almost take to the bank is this one: When you use a compound adjective (or phrasal adjective) before a noun, use a h... You can see there is a general rule here. When you place the compound after a noun, you usually leave it in open construction.

We're back this week with some other installment of common misunderstandings observed at the editing aspect of the website. This time we're protecting hyphens and compound modifiers, entire with examples in line with some same old sportswriting structures.

As with commas, there's some wiggle room with regards to deciding when and when not to employ the compound modifier hyphen. The sharpest of editors can end up debating whether or not hyphenation is a must in a given scenario.

But there are some simple rules—and then there are the ultimate necessities: clarity and consistency.

When to Hyphenate a Compound Modifier

A compound modifier is formed when multiple words come together to explain a next noun. We add a hyphen (or hyphens) to the combo to elucidate this, because the meaning of a sentence can every now and then change or be obscured relying on how the elements of description are compatible in combination. Even when the meaning will also be gleaned, the lack of a helpful hyphen can still interrupt readers' enjoy once they to find it essential to retread a sentence. ("Wait, what did I simply learn? Ugh, gotta get started over.")

Let's take a take a look at this sentence:

WRONG: Ryan Grigson dropped the injury susceptible avid gamers with hefty contracts.

It's not that the meaning is completely elusive right here, however a reader may wish to reapproach the sentence to look that Grigson didn't drop the noun "damage" and that "inclined" isn't enhancing "avid gamers" all by itself. Using the hyphenated "injury-prone" creates a smoother read, making it in an instant obtrusive that the avid gamers in question had been vulnerable to injury.

CORRECT: Ryan Grigson dropped the injury-prone gamers with hefty contracts.

More on hyphens from Grammar Girl, including a nice phase on how hyphens can trade a sentence's which means.

Hyphenates Common to Sportswriting

"Injury-prone" is a compound modifier that appears with some frequency in our line of labor. "Much-needed" and "well known" pop up slightly a lot too, however note that those are hyphenated most effective when (1) showing immediately ahead of the noun described or (2) following a type of the verb "to be."

WRONG: His early spark, much-needed for the reason that workforce's serious slump, proved insufficient as the game wore on.

CORRECT: Jake Peavy returning to top form supplied a much-needed spark.

CORRECT: Jake Peavy returning to best shape equipped a spark that was much-needed.

With appreciate to this remaining correct instance, the AP Stylebook says, "When a modifier that can be hyphenated earlier than a noun occurs as an alternative after a form of the verb to be, the hyphen typically will have to be retained to avoid confusion."

We additionally see a lot of number-related compound modifiers requiring hyphenation. Here are a few examples:

The New York Rangers bounced again with a three-game winning streak. He scored in double digits six occasions all through his four-year profession at Duke. Illinois handed a double-digit loss to Gonzaga remaining December. Michael Dyer slashed through the line of scrimmage for a five-yard acquire. She never began a high school sport until proving her skills with a stellar third-quarter push.

Now is a just right time to the touch at the function of the suspended hyphen, since it regularly comes up in number-related phrasing. This construction lets in us to combine multiple compound modifiers sharing a commonplace part. In the example under, that shared element is "around":

WRONG: Washington traded its first and moment around picks in 2012.

WRONG: Washington traded its first and second-round choices in 2012.

WRONG: Washington traded its first-and-second-round selections in 2012.

CORRECT: Washington traded its first- and second-round picks in 2012.

More on suspended hyphens from Ask the English Teacher.

When NOT to Hyphenate a Compound Modifier

Let's take a nearer have a look at the remaining sentence in that crew of number-related compound modifiers above:

She never started a highschool recreation until proving her talents with a stellar third-quarter push.

We would possibly feel pressured to add a hyphen between "high" and "college," enhancing "game." However, "high school" is frequently understood as a single term, so there's no need for extra clarity there.

A phrase like "slog it out," meanwhile, isn't a generic word, so we'll wish to hyphenate its adjectival utilization:

The not too long ago dethroned champions will want to take more than a slog-it-out means.

This last sentence also offers us a possibility to say that we DO NOT wish to hyphenate adverbs finishing in "-ly." That's why the word "not too long ago dethroned" should no longer contain a hyphen. Here's another instance of this rule:

WRONG: Jesse Scroggins arrived at USC as a highly-touted prospect.

CORRECT: Jesse Scroggins arrived at USC as a highly touted prospect.

More on "-ly" adverbs in compound constructions from Kent Law.

Hyphenating compound modifiers is all about making a text as exact and understandable as conceivable. We want to strengthen readers' come across with each and every sentence rather than ask them to do a lot of labor in decoding the meant meaning.

We'll be back next week to hide a few quirky constructions in better detail and to focus on some linked B/R style points. Until then, be certain to take a look at our Stylebook for further rules and tips.

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Gracie Leavitt manages the editor training program at Bleacher Report.