II.    HYPHEN                                                                                                            

     A hyphen is a short horizontal line ( – ) used within words.                                                                                                         

In many computer word processing programs (like WordPerfect and Microsoft Word), a hyphen can be made by using the number key pad: Make sure "NUMLOCK" is on. Then hold down the Alt key and type in 0150. Do not put a space before or after the hyphen.

Hyphens are used in a variety of ways.

A.    Written Numbers Using Hyphens

1.     Use a hyphen between the tens and units number when you are writing out the numbers twenty–one to ninety–nine in words. DO NOT use hyphens for other numbers.

	Incorrect	three-hundred-ninety-five
	Correct	three hundred ninety-five

2.     Use a hyphen between the numerator and denominator when you are writing out a fraction in words AND the fraction is an adjective.

	Incorrect	One-third of the students failed the test.
		(Here, one third is a noun, not an adjective.)
	Correct	One third of the students failed the test.
	Incorrect	A two thirds majority of the Senate can pass a law
		(Here, two thirds is an adjective modifying "majority.")
	Correct	A two-thirds majority of the Senate can pass a law.

 B.    Use a hyphen after a prefix followed by a proper noun or proper adjective.

	Incorrect	mid July	pre Colombian
	Correct	mid-July	pre-Colombian

C.    Use a hyphen in words beginning with the prefixes all–, ex– (meaning "former"), and self– and in words ending with the suffix –elect.

	Incorrect	self motivated	all consuming	ex wife	self taught	president elect
	Correct	self-motivated	all-consuming	ex-wife	self-taught	president-elect

	Incorrect	ex-ample	ex-treme	(The prefixes in "example" and "extreme" do not mean "former.")
	Correct	example	extreme

 D.    Use a hyphen to connect the words which form a compound noun.

	Incorrect	father in law	secretary treasurer
	Correct	father-in-law	secretary-treasurer

 E.    Use a hyphen to connect the words which form a compound modifier that comes before the word being modified. DO NOT use a hyphen with compound parts which end in –ly or which are made up of proper names or proper adjectives.

	Incorrect	He is a well known author.
	Correct	He is a well-known author.	(Hyphenate a compound modifier before a noun.)
	Incorrect	That author is well-known.
	Correct	That author is well known.	(The modifier follows the noun, so don't use a hyphen.)
	Incorrect	This is a nicely-written essay.
	Correct	This is a nicely written essay.	(The modifier ends in -ly, so don't use a hyphen.)
	Incorrect	The South-Korean capital is Seoul.
	Correct	The South Korean capital is Seoul.	(The modifier is proper, so don't use a hyphen.)

 

return to top | previous page | next page