Guide to Hyphenation

HYPENATING WORDS GUIDE:

In language, words evolve and compound words can evolve from separate words, to words linked by a hyphen to one word. This growth stage is often called: the “hyphenation stage”.

Sometimes, as in the two word phrase: data base, it skips the hyphenation transition phase and becomes one word: database.

Normally, the safest way if you are unsure, is to check a dictionary for the latest usage of the word or hyphenated words.

USEFUL PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES:

	Principle / Guideline	Sample Sentence	Sense
1.	With two or more adjectives before a noun that act as “one idea” use a hyphen	That was a low-budget film.	The film was not low and not a budget film The film was made for a low amount of money: hence: low-budget
2.	Do not hyphenate, when the adjectives before a noun act separately and the comma could be replaced by the word “and”.	I like to eat juicy, red apples.	The apple was both juicy and red
3.	Do not hyphen when the descriptive words are placed after the noun	·    It is a well-known fact that cats like to sleep all day. ·    Cats like to sleep all day is well known

	Principle / Guideline	·    Sample Sentence	Sense
4.	When describing age: hyphenate before the noun but do not hyphenate after the noun	·    He was beaten by a twelve-year-old girl ·    The girl who beat him is twelve years old
5.	Hyphenate where words or expressions have become linked in their usage	Mother-in-law fine-tune X-ray	Note: as language evolves, and is not always logical, it is often sensible to check these types of words in an “up-to-date” dictionary
6.	Do not hyphenate after an adverb ending in –ly	A carefully planned lesson	-ly adverbs are moveable: so you could as easily say: “The lesson was carefully planned”
7.	Comparative or superlative adjectives do not use a hyphen	The most likely outcome The better made suit
8.	Chemical terms do not use a hyphen	Hydrogen peroxide Ferrous oxide
9.	When a letter or number is used as the second element in the adjective or adverb phrase, there is no hyphen	That was a class A act He has type 2 diabetes
10.	Numbers consisting of two words and fractions are hyphenated (i.e. from 21-99, ¼ etc.)	Twenty-two, thirty-five, one-quarter, two thirds

	Principle / Guideline	Sample Sentence	Sense
11.	Prefixes: hyphenate after the following prefixes: ex-, self-, all, cross	Ex-wife self-satisfied all-weather cross-reference	NOTE: Cross section is two words (although the adjective: cross-sectional is hyphenated) Many words, prefixed with cross have now become one word: crossroads, crossword
12.	Prefixes: Do not hyphenate after the following prefixes: Anti, bi, co, counter, de, dis, hyper, in, inter, mega, micro, mis, non, out, over, pre, post, re, semi, under	Antisocial Bilateral Coworker Counteroffer Interconnected Outshone Hyperactive Megabyte Etc.	NOTE: When the description refers to a country or the second descriptive word uses a capital letter, a hyphen should be used: Un-British Non-Singaporean EXCEPTIONS: When the prefix and the second element have not become one word (grown together), then a hyphen should be used: de-emphasise co-operative anti-inflammatory
13.	Do not hyphenate verb & preposition combinations	The girl at the checkout was helpful We need to check out of the hotel
14.	Clarity: when you need to create clarity in your writing, a hyphen should be used:	Re-sign (to sign again) vs. resign (to quit your post)