Spelling. Hyphens
Prefixes
- Many words beginning with a prefix are written with a hyphen (co-payment); many are not (overproduction).
- Confusingly, there are also cases where both forms are considered acceptable (British: pre-school / American: preschool). As can be seen from this last example, the tendency in American English is to hyphenate less than in British English.
- In any event, if in doubt about whether a prefix should be followed by a hyphen, consult a reliable dictionary.
- Words beginning with a common prefix (such as un, dis or re) are often written without a hyphen.
Current numbers of absences from class in many subjects are unacceptably high.
Student representatives have disregarded criticism from the Rector, calling it uninformed and unfair.
This initiative reaffirms the strong ties between the two universities. - Nevertheless, make sure to hyphenate when the prefix re precedes a word beginning with e, such as re-evaluate, or when the hyphen can help avoid confusion, such as re-sent vs resent or re-sign vs resign.
- Hyphenate all words formed by a prefix + word beginning with a capital letter.
This movement is a pan-European response to failures in education.
The research confirms a growing anti-British sentiment in commercial relations.
The trans-Siberian railway attracts many students seeking adventure. - Note that words like transatlantic, transpacific or subarctic are normally written as a single words with no capitalisation.
Compound adjectives
- Hyphenate compound adjectives before a noun to indicate that the adjectives should be read as a unit, thereby avoiding ambiguity.
small-city mayors [as opposed to city mayors who are small]
a popular-music producer [as opposed to a music producer who is popular] -
Although hyphens are only sometimes needed to avoid misunderstanding, hyphenate compound adjectives even when confusion is unlikely.
a little-discussed problem
a low-prevalence phenomenon
a well-meaning intervention - However, do not hyphenate compound adjectives in which the first element is an adverb ending in either -ly or -y.
a compellingly argued paper
a highly detailed research proposal
a very engaging argument - Similarly, do not hyphenate compound adjectival forms in which the first element is a comparative or superlative.
the most cited research paper
a less complicated suggestion
Nouns formed from phrasal verbs
- Nouns formed from phrasal verbs are often written as a single word and may or may not be hyphenated. If in doubt, consult a dictionary.
The dropouts from this course are unusually high.
Funding problems have meant that these projects have been put on standby.
A major follow-up to this study has already been planned.
Last year's buy-in allowed the faculty to open three new laboratories.
Adjectives formed from phrasal verbs
- When a phrasal verb is used as an adjective, it is usually hyphenated.
Students participating in this initiative were given additional information during the signing-on phase.
During the warm-up period, there will be no assessment.
Word breaks
- Hyphens can be used to break words up into their component parts to facilitate reading by avoiding doubled letters.
Part-time teaching staff plays an increasingly important role in the MA programme.
The Office of Health and Safety’s harm-minimisation strategy was instrumental in reducing the spread of Covid among the staff. - But note that certain high-frequency terms are no longer hyphenated.
Cooperation among participating universities is gradually increasing.
Macroeconomic factors have led to considerable modifications in research funding. - Words that are part of a name may be exceptions to this rule.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Compounds with the same root and different prefixes
- When a noun is preceded by more than one hyphenated prefix, write the prefixes as follows.
In a pioneering study, the Department of Psychology is currently researching the pre- and post-natal effects of carbon monoxide.
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