1) Consult the dictionary to determine how to treat a compound word. Sometimes a compound word has a hyphen, like water-repellant, but other times the compound word is one word, like waterproof. If the compound word isn’t in the dictionary, then treat it like two words.
2) Use a hyphen to connect two or more words functioning together as a single adjective before a noun.
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Mrs. Douglas gave Toshiko a seashell and some newspaper-wrapped fish to take home to her mother. |
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Richa Gupta is not yet a well-known candidate. |
*No hyphen is needed when the compound word comes after the noun it’s modifying.
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After our television campaign, Richa Gupta will be well known. |
* Do not use a hyphen to connect -ly adverbs to the words they modify.
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Right |
Wrong |
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A slowly moving truck tied up traffic |
A slowly-moving truck tied up traffic |
3) Hyphenate the written form of fractions and compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine.
4) Use a hyphen with the prefixes all-, ex-, and self- and with the suffix -elect.
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The charity is funneling more money into self-help projects, |
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Anne King is our club’s president-elect. |