Questions tagged [hyphens]
For questions about when and whether to use a hyphen (-) to join two words or two syllables of a single word together.
158
questions
1
vote
2
answers
49
views
Hyphenate “communicating”: communi-cating or communic-ating?
The online hyphenator https://www.ushuaia.pl/hyphen/?ln=en provides different hyphenations of the word communicating depending on the variant of English: according to that program (which needn't be ...
- 301
-1
votes
2
answers
32
views
Hyphens or no hyphens in well(-)thought(-)through?
Which of the following is the correct form?
well thought through
well thought-through
well-thought-through
I've tried googling, and all three seem to occur to quite some extent, but does that mean ...
- 1,024
0
votes
1
answer
39
views
What type of dash is in “Bo01 - City of Tomorrow”?
Is the short line in “Bo01 - City of Tomorrow” supposed to be a hyphen, en dash, or em dash?
Also, is the line following "2001" used correctly?
Malmö has long been renowned as a pioneer in ...
- 4,818
0
votes
2
answers
32
views
Cardboard cut out, cutout or cut-out?
I couldn't find an agreement online on which form of "cut out" is the most correct as a noun.
It would be interesting to know about any British English and U.S. English distinction as well.
- 13
0
votes
1
answer
17
views
Should a hyphen be used in this sentence?
Should there be a hyphen in this use of held-out hands?
"The held out hands of God are benevolent and generous hands that pour out blessing, favor, and provisions on His people."
0
votes
2
answers
58
views
Hyphen usage with with multiple compound adjectives separated by or/and
I have the following question. I have a structure like this:
dark-looking or sinister-looking
Can I write it like this:
dark- or sinister-looking
- 41
0
votes
1
answer
26
views
Does "Yet-not-something" exist? [closed]
I was writing a text and started thinking if this grammar construction exists: "yet-not-something".
The phrase I was trying to write is:
It is expected the operations start by May and, by ...
- 23
2
votes
1
answer
77
views
What does the hyphen ("-") here mean?
Today, when reading Lannquist,2020, p.7, I saw the second hyphen "-" but I do not understand what the author wants to imply.
“smart‑contract”‑driven wholesale CBDC applications
(e.g. “...
- 563
0
votes
1
answer
240
views
"number one way" hyphen
The number (-) one way to make someone less stressed is to appreciate them and their struggle, support them no matter what, and share your experience of dealing with a similar problem.
Should there ...
- 317
-2
votes
1
answer
63
views
Where is the noun in this sentence
Where is the noun in this sentence.
You'll be really well rewarded in this job.
The reason why I wanna know that is because of this sentence “ That's right! The first adjective is an 'adverb + past ...
- 33
0
votes
0
answers
29
views
Does a plus sign affect hyphen usage? Is it “+3-year” or “+3 year”?
If I’m referring to an impairment rating of +3 years, do I say “+3-year impairment rating” or “+3 year impairment rating”?
- 1
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is it correct to say "how-many-day a tour was it"?
How-many-day a tour was it?
How many days was the tour?
How many days of tour were you on?
How-many-day tour of Cambridge were you on?
Are the above sentences grammatically correct?
I understand ...
- 233
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Pre-school or preschool?
When I check my various dictionaries (Longman; Cambridge; Merriam-Webster and a bilingual dictionary), preschool is spelt without a hyphen. Still, when I google it, I get a fair number of hits for ...
- 1,024
0
votes
1
answer
79
views
Ant-keeping? Or Antkeeping?
Up until now I was under the impression that hyphens are very rare in the English language. At least when it comes down to compounds. (This is different from my native language, where it is rather ...
- 99
0
votes
1
answer
23
views
Is it (patho)physiological, (patho-)physiological or (patho)-physiological? [closed]
I'm not sure what the correct usage of hyphens is if they are used to provide a word alternative.
Example: These are released from cells under certain (patho)physiological conditions.
Bonus question: ...
- 103
1
vote
1
answer
29
views
hyphen after an open compund noun for a hierarchical two-level compund noun
EDIT: The sentence is what I would consider a minimum working example and is originally followed by some subordinate clause. I am not looking to simply reduce word count but to improve intelligibility ...
- 11
6
votes
2
answers
327
views
Are noun+noun and noun's (aphostrope) + noun the same?
First, please see these examples:
Noun+noun:
a three-hour journey
a ten-pound note
a four-week course
noun + 's + noun:
I've got a week's holiday starting on Monday.
Julia has got three weeks' ...
- 4,720
0
votes
1
answer
557
views
Modern day vs modern-day in a sentence
I'm preparing for academic IELTS by writing some essays and then correcting those using a grammar correction app.
In the following sentence,
...as opposed to the modern day where the numbers are more ...
- 347
2
votes
2
answers
48
views
What are the rules for capitalizing the second part of a hyphenated word in a title?
I would assume that it both parts of the hyphenated word would be capitalized in a standard example (e.g. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler). However, I noticed in my piano book, it ...
1
vote
1
answer
630
views
Hyphen usage with 'off-limits'/'off limits'
I have seen both 'off-limits' and 'off limits' used in the same context. A thing that is off(-)limits is forbidden to be used or otherwise restricted to only some people's usage from my understanding.
...
- 41
0
votes
1
answer
22
views
Can I use the combination "multi-adjective+noun"?
I'd like to learn if I can use the combination "multi-adjective+noun" to form an adjective.
Examples;
This is a multi-rigid-body analysis.
(I mean that this analysis has more than one ...
- 838
1
vote
0
answers
35
views
How do we capitalize a hyphenated adjective which starts with an abbrevation in the beginning of a sentence?
I am really confused right now and I can't seem to find a straight answer to this question.
I was writing an essay and I am stumped on the correct capitalization when it came to starting a sentence ...
1
vote
1
answer
46
views
"A well Oxford-educated politician" OR "A well-Oxford-educated politician"?
I saw many examples like "He is an Oxford-educated politician" and I'm curious about the usage of hyphens here by adding "well" in the front.
Is it
"He is a well-Oxford-...
- 838
0
votes
0
answers
14
views
A question about the word repellent
which one is correct? Rub some of this mosquito repellent on your legs or Rub some of this mosquito-repellent on your legs. I think the first one is correct. However, I have seen the second one in ...
- 113
1
vote
2
answers
83
views
How should an „anti-human trafficking operation“ be hyphenated?
How should an „anti-human trafficking operation“ be hyphenated? I recently saw this expression in a newspaper article, with a hyphen between „anti“ and „human“. It took me some time to figure out that ...
- 125
0
votes
1
answer
160
views
What is the difference between "state of the art" and "state-of-the-art"?
Sometimes I see sentences with "state of the art" and others with "state-of-the-art".
What is the difference if it has a hyphen?
2
votes
2
answers
85
views
Which is correct? dubious looking + noun Or dubious-looking + noun?
I'm currently writing an essay. I don't know whether or not it's 'dubious looking' or 'dubious-looking' when describing a noun.
For example, 'dubious(-)looking' form. I know the hyphen is used when ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
82
views
"mini-skydiver" vs "miniskydiver."
Example sentence:
The cockroach fell to the floor like a mini-skydiver and scurried out of the bathroom.
Some style guides say that you shouldn't use a hyphen with the prefix "mini."
But I ...
- 7,037
0
votes
1
answer
29
views
What is the usage of the tailing hyphen without connecting to the second word?
The paper I am reading says,
On the other hand, the side of the split comes from challenges made in the 1970s to the primarily white, non-disabled, heterosexual, and otherwise privileged mainstream ...
- 103
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
What's the difference between 'time-consuming' and 'time-consumed'?
How do I distinguish whether to use v-ing or v-ed within compound adjective?
- 217
0
votes
1
answer
396
views
"on this matter" or " in this regard" here?
In addition to the main question, it is master or master's more appropriated here?
.On the other hand, graduated with a master’s that provides the latest strategies to tackle agricultural-associated ...
- 69
0
votes
0
answers
34
views
Is it necessary to add hyphens before this location?
I am wondering whether I need to add hyphens to Karala in this context? Is it necessary?
Moreover, this specific education allows her to aid like no other to her home region --Karala, whose population ...
- 69
0
votes
0
answers
26
views
Are hyphens required in this case? [duplicate]
I am wondering whether I have to use hyphens in this case? I haven't used them before in the text this sentence is included in, but they seem necessary here. or maybe I could just avoid them?
....
- 69
0
votes
1
answer
124
views
“a lump the size of a golf ball” or “of the size” or “a golf-ball-sized lump”?
Which one of them is grammatically correct?
a lump the size of a golf ball
a lump of the size of a golf ball
a golf-ball-sized lump
Which one of them is used more in daily language specifically in ...
- 17
0
votes
2
answers
82
views
Why is it "Server Side Include" instead of "Server-Side Include"?
Thanks to Lambie I recently learned that compound adjectives are hyphenated, for example server-side request forgery.
When looking up server-side include(s), it appears that most places write this ...
- 245
0
votes
1
answer
130
views
Where should hyphens go in "five thousand dollar(s)"?
Which of the following sentences is correct?
She won a five-thousand-dollar prize!
She won a five thousand-dollar prize!
She won a five thousand dollar prize!
She won a five thousand dollars prize!...
user123162
0
votes
1
answer
548
views
Capitalization and hyphenation in words like 'southeastern' [closed]
Is it
South-Eastern Ukraine,
Southeastern Ukraine, or
South Eastern Ukraine
? What about capitalization? I saw various spellings. Which one is the most advisable? Don't close the question.
- 2,234
0
votes
0
answers
176
views
Is it correct to use 'home based'?
In the following sentence, is it grammatically correct to use 'home based'? I wrote that sentence. I'd like to know whether the word 'home based' should be hyphenated or not. I think it doesn't need a ...
- 61
0
votes
0
answers
21
views
Use of hyphen in "Synthetic free-fiber insulation"?
On a jacket care label I found this sentence:
"Synthetic free-fiber insulation"
Is this correct use of hyphen? (given that it should mean that the fiber in the insulation is free from ...
- 101
-1
votes
1
answer
104
views
E-mail or e-mail or E/email? [closed]
E-mail or e-mail or E/email? I am finding a variety of content on the proper way to write this term.
- 129
0
votes
1
answer
393
views
How do I hyphenate things like 'then-British Prime Minister'?
What if a prefix is added not to just one word but to a multi-word phrase? What should I do in terms of hyphen(s) and blank(s)? 'Then-British Prime Minister'? 'Then British Prime Minister'?
- 2,234
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
When can I hyphenate "in-place"?
To me, these feel correct:
They were replaced in-place.
The dancers twirl in-place.
Protections are in place.
It shows squares in place of symbols.
But trying to look for information on its ...
- 245
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
High school student vs. high-school student
I thought high school should have an hyphen in the middle when used as an adjective. Therefore:
I'm in high school (noun)
I'm a high-school student. (adjective)
But after a Google Book ...
- 7,037
0
votes
2
answers
158
views
Should vertically carved have a hyphen?
I described this as "vertically carved characters":
I was told that you usually put an hyphen when you have a verb.
I did a Google search, and I found both the hyphen and hyphenless versions:
[......
- 7,037
0
votes
1
answer
13k
views
meetup vs. meet-up
According to Dictionary.com, "meetup" and "meet-up" are one and the same, but isn't true that when there's a hyphen between two words, in this case "meet-up", it's an ...
- 571
0
votes
1
answer
67
views
Hyphenation of the words anyone, anymore, anything
I'm confused about how I should hyphenate these words because MS Word often suggests something like this: an-yone, an-ymore. According to Google, MS Word is right and we can hyphenate them in two ...
- 45
2
votes
2
answers
79
views
Should I hyphen the adjective in "night-time ritual"?
How would you write these two sentences:
It's quiet at nighttime.
It was a night-time ritual.
Should I hyphen the second sentence (as I have)?
user104632
0
votes
1
answer
241
views
Hyphen with multiple adjectives
A five-year-old whiskey
A five year old boy
Should multiple adjectives describing a noun be hyphenated?
- 397
0
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Can I write the word 'mother-in-law' as 'mother in law' or 'mother in-law'?
In Longman Dictionary I have found the word 'mother-in-law'. Can I write the word 'mother-in-law' as 'mother in law' or 'mother in-law'?
0
votes
0
answers
28
views
How to hyphenate an adjective+noun+gerund adjective compound?
We're used to adjective compounds, such as:
a decision-making process
or
a cancer-causing lotion.
But what if I want to add an adjective to the noun?
For example:
a corporate decision-...
- 1,307