Closed compound words: no spaces between the words Hyphenated compound words: hyphens between the words The different categories of compound words pertain only to the words’ spellings—they don’t affect how the words are used or pronounced. Still, it’s important to understand their differences ...
The article offers the author's insights on the use of hyphens in compound modifiers. Topics discussed include most of style guides in writing recommend the hyphen only when its absence would encourage ambiguity, the "Economist Guide" recognizes the subjective view and is recommended by American ...
we can use thesuspensive hyphenfor a series of two or more hyphenated compound modifiers with the same base element: “Small- and medium-scaleindustries deserve government subsidy.”“We needfive-, six-, and nine-meterpoles for this project.” In each of the examples, the hyphens allow the...
To identify a “no later than” date for the use in English publishing of hyphens in compound modifiers that appear immediately before nouns, I ran Google Books searches for the words booke and boke for the period 1500–1800, and then, for each match, ran an internal search for insta...
In Rule 5 of Hyphens, we also emphasize including a hyphen with a compound modifier anytime omitting one could lead to ambiguity. Potentially misaimed: Springfield has little town charm. (If we omit the hyphen, we’re suggesting Springfield lacks appeal. Is that what we want to say?) Clear...
In English grammar, we use hyphens when a noun and a number are used together as an adjective to describe another noun; such constructions are known as compound adjectives with numbers. For example, the phrases hundred-story building, 21-year-old actor, and one-hour drive are all compound ...
English Grammar: The Sentence English Grammar: Compound Subjects & Verb Agreement Learn English Punctuation: How to use hyphens with compound adjectives When to use “A” or “AN” in a sentence… and when NOT to! (Indefinite Articles) Fix two BIG errors in English writing! Adam 9 TURN Phra...
Using the SIMPLE + MODIFIERS = COMPLETE formula, we can say that room is the simple complement, the modifies room, and the room is the complete complement or complete direct object. Where is All This Leading? Our conclusion? A sentence is comprised of a subject, predicate, and, as often...
Hawking Hyphens in Compound ModifiersThe first principle of legal writing is surely its clarity — visible actors (unless the action matters more), uncluttered syntax, and, of course, logical structSocial Science Electronic Publishing
There are three types of compound words: open compound words, which have spaces between the words (dining room); closed compound words, which have no spaces (babysit); and hyphenated compound words, which have hyphens (free-for-all).