How do you hyphenate compound adjectives?
Compound adjectives don’t have any special rules or exceptions; they behave the same as any other adjective. Usually, it is best to use a hyphen or hyphens with compound adjectives so that a reader knows they are being used together as a single adjective rather than as separate words.
Why would you use a hyphen?
Generally, hyphens are used to join two words or parts of words together while avoiding confusion or ambiguity. Consult your dictionary if you are not sure if a hyphen is required in a compound word, but remember that current usage may have shifted since your dictionary was published.
Where do you put a hyphen in word?
Hyphenate text manually
- On the Layout tab, click the arrow next to Hyphenation .
- Select Manual. Word identifies each hyphenation possibility in turn.
- In the Manual Hyphenation dialog box, click the hyphenation location that you want, and then click Yes.
Do you hyphenate superlatives?
Comparative and superlative adjectives in compound words should also have a hyphen when they come before a noun. Low-income families often face more stress than their higher-income counterparts. It is generally preferable to have a position as a higher-level executive than as a menial worker.
Why are some adjectives hyphenated?
In a temporary compound that is used as an adjective before a noun, use a hyphen if the term can be misread or if the term expresses a single thought (i.e., all words together modify the noun).
How do you hyphenate a phrase?
The general rule: if two or more consecutive words make sense only when understood together as an adjective modifying a noun, hyphenate those words….when the hyphen is added:
- high school kids vs.
- one armed bandit vs.
- criminal law professors vs.
- small animal veterinarian vs.
- old boat dealer vs.
- bad weather report vs.
Why do some compound words have hyphens?
Hyphens in compound words Hyphens are used in many compound words to show that the component words have a combined meaning (e.g. a pick-me-up, mother-in-law, good-hearted) or that there is a relationship between the words that make up the compound: for example, rock-forming minerals are minerals that form rocks.
How do you use dashes and hyphens?
A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that’s used to join words or parts of words. It’s not interchangeable with other types of dashes. A dash is longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. The most common types of dashes are the en dash (–) and the em dash (—).
How do dashes work in grammar?
Use dashes to set off an idea or an appositive within a sentence. A dash (—) is a punctuation mark used to set off an idea within a sentence and may be used alone or in pairs. Dashes interrupt a thought in a more dramatic way than a phrase enclosed in commas, but less theatrically than parentheses.
Is there a hyphen in mutually agreed upon?
We could hyphenate it as agreed-upon to make it clearer that the two-word phrase is acting as a single adjectival unit, modifying the noun bet. The past participle of the verb agree is used adjectivally, and the preposition accompanies it when forming the adjectival phrase. It was a mutually agreed upon bet.
How do you use the word agreed upon in a sentence?
How to use agreed upon in a sentence. agreed upon. He discovers that all the ideas and concepts he revered and held dear are not agreed upon by all people. The idea of holding a series of dinners, similar to the first event, was agreed upon. Another agreed upon fact is that it is extremely important to rinse away every last drop
When do you hyphenate in a word ending in-ing?
For line breaks in words ending in -ing, if a single final consonant in the root word is doubled before the suffix, hyphenate between the consonants; otherwise, hyphenate at the suffix itself: plan-ning run-ning driv-ing call-ing
What is the proper use of the hyphen in English?
Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. A comprehensive rundown on the proper use of the hyphen. Two words brought together as a compound may be written separately, written as one word, or connected by hyphens. For example, three modern dictionaries all have the same listings for the following compounds: