hyphen

The (Hip) Hyphen: -

No, no! Not "hymen"--totally different! Do NOT confuse!

Back in the days before computers and word processors, if you got to the end of a line with only room for half your word, you could use a hyphen to con- tinue the word on the next line.

You have our permission to still do that if your needs and lack of a word processor demand it.

You also have our permission to:

Use the hyphen for words to indicate a number between twenty-one and ninety-nine

Use the hyphen for words to describe fractions: five-sixths, seven-eighths, two-thirds

Combine two words into one modifier: over-the-hill age bracket, well-muscled young man, none-too-smart a response.

Clear up an otherwise messy combination of words that lead to double lettering:

semi intelligent (Yucky!) semi-intelligent (Awright!); preselection (Blechhh!) pre-election (Ahhh!)

After a prefix that comes before a capitalized word: un-American, mid-August, pro-Redsox. . .

With the prefixes "self-" and "ex-" : self-important, ex-soldier

Some dictionaries allow the hyphen with other prefixes. When in doubt, check in the same dictionary your teacher uses.

To return to Step Two, please click : HERE

The Wonderful Writing Skills (Un)Handbook
		The (Hip) Hyphen: - No, no! Not "hymen"--totally different! Do NOT confuse! Back in the days before computers and word processors, if you got to the end of a line with only room for half your word, you could use a hyphen to con- tinue the word on the next line. You have our permission to still do that if your needs and lack of a word processor demand it. You also have our permission to: Use the hyphen for words to indicate a number between twenty-one and ninety-nine Use the hyphen for words to describe fractions: five-sixths, seven-eighths, two-thirds Combine two words into one modifier: over-the-hill age bracket, well-muscled young man, none-too-smart a response. Clear up an otherwise messy combination of words that lead to double lettering: semi intelligent (Yucky!) semi-intelligent (Awright!); preselection (Blechhh!) pre-election (Ahhh!) After a prefix that comes before a capitalized word: un-American, mid-August, pro-Redsox. . . With the prefixes "self-" and "ex-" : self-important, ex-soldier Some dictionaries allow the hyphen with other prefixes. When in doubt, check in the same dictionary your teacher uses. To return to Step Two, please click : HERE
	To the top Home \| Information \| Dialogues \| Directions \| Ideas \| Learnatron \| MOP With your questions, ideas, comments and/or pitiful cries into the night, email who holds the copyright to all of this.