There are different ways to write compound words. They can be written or spelled as two separate words (open compound), joined words forming a single word, or two words joined together by a hyphen (hyphenated compounds).
There are irregularities in compounding that even authorities are not always in agreement in all cases of compounding words. The following examples of the use of hyphen, however, are generally accepted.
1. Use a hyphen if the two or more words are functioning together as a single adjective before the noun.
Examples:
load-bearing concrete
sugar-coated doughnuts
a well-written article
Omit the hyphen if the noun comes before the compound modifiers.
The doughnuts were sugar coated.
The article was well written.
2. Use a hyphen with compound numbers. When spelled out, numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine must be hyphenated.
Examples:
fifty-eight
seventy-three
The well-respected businessman turned sixty-nine this month.
3. Use a hyphen to steer clear of any confusion or an awkward looking string of letters.
Examples:
The message was re-sent. (I resent doing that chores.)
The servants re-lay the carpet. ( The assistant will relay your message to the CEO.)
I am not a fan of the anti-intellectual culture in sports. (instead of antiintelectual)
4.Use hyphen with some prefixes such as ex- meaning former, self-, all-; with -elect as a suffix; to connect a prefix with a capitalized noun; and with figures or letters.
Examples:
ex-convict
self-control
mid-August
all-consuming
president-elect
ex-Soviet leader
U-turn
mid-1940s
5. Use hyphen in line breaks.
a. When there is not enough space, use hyphen at the end of a line if necessary. This is to indicate that a long word has been broken off. Divide the word between syllables.
Note: Do not divide one-syllable words.
Correct:
| It is imperative that we strictly follow all the necessary recom- |
| mended procedures. |
Incorrect:
| They committed a huge mistake by underestimating the final co- |
| st of the project. |
b. Always divide a hyphenated compound word only at the hyphen.
Correct:
The preparation for the inauguration of the president-
elect started in the wee hours of the morning.
Incorrect:
The preparation for the inauguration of the pres-
ident-elect started in the wee hours of the morning.
c. To break words ending in -ing, if a single final consonant in the root word is doubled before the suffix, use hyphen to separate the consonants; if not, hyphenate at the suffix itself.
drop-ping
hop-ping
learn-ing
spill-ing
d. Do not separate a word between syllables if only one letter remains or if only two-letter suffixed begin a line.
simply (Do not break this word in a way which leaves ly at the beginning of a new line.)
in-sin-u-ate ( Divide only on either side of the u; do not leave the first letter i- at the end of a line.)