  THE general theory of compounding is that when two words are used together with but a single meaning, the hyphen is employed if the emphasis of pronunciation falls upon the first word, but omitted if it is the second word which requires the emphasis. Practice, however, has shown that this theory is not sufficiently specific in its expression to guide the student who is desirous of making consistent use of the hyphen, and recourse to the various dictionaries adds to his confusion because of the many variations. Good usage, therefore, becomes his only refuge, and the rules which are formulated and collated here are based wholly upon what appears to the present writer to come within this definition. Many words originally compounded or written as two words are now written as one; on the other hand, modern usage now compounds or breaks into two words many words which were originally written as one. ¶ In general, hyphens should always be omitted when the meaning can be equally well expressed by using the same words separately. {46} Use the hyphen:1. With the prefix mid, except in cases of words in common use: e.g., mid-channel, but midsummer, midday, etc. 2. When two or more words (except proper names which form a unity in themselves) are combined, preceding a noun: e.g., the well-known financier, up-to-date equipment, go-as-you-please race; but a quaint old English tea-room. In applying this rule be careful not to hyphenate adjectives and participles with adverbs which end in ly, nor with combinations such as those referred to when following a noun or qualifying a predicate: e.g., possessed of highly developed intelligence, a lawyer well thought of in his own city. 3. In such words as attorney-general, vice-president, rear-admiral, etc.; but not in viceroy, vicegerent, etc. 4. Compounds of color: e.g., olive-green, silver-gray, lemon-yellow, red-hot, etc. But in simple cases of adjective and noun, as brownish yellow or yellowish white the words are not compounded. 5. In nouns which stand in objective relation to each other, one of whose components is derived from a transitive verb: e.g., I am your well-wisher, He is a large property-holder, hero-worship, but not in bookkeeper, bookmaker, copyholder, dressmaker, lawgiver, proofreader, {47} taxpayer, and similar common short compounds. 6. In compounds of fellow: e.g., play-fellow, fellow-creatures, etc.; but bedfellow. 7. In compounds of father, mother, brother, sister, daughter, parent, and foster: e.g., father-feeling, mother-country, brother-love, sister-empire, foster-father, great-grandfather, etc.; but fatherland, fatherhead, grandfather. 8. In compounds of world and life: e.g., life-story, world-influence, etc.; but lifetime. 9. In compounds of master: e.g., master-painter, etc.; but masterpiece. 10. In compounds of god: e.g., sun-god, rain-god, etc.; but godson. 11. When half or quarter, etc., is combined with a noun: e.g., half-circle, half-title, quarter-mile, etc.; but quartermaster, headquarters, etc. 12. In compounds of self: e.g., self-esteem, self-respecting, etc., but not in selfhood, selfish, selfsame, or oneself. 13. In connecting ex, vice, general, elect, etc., constituting parts of titles, with the chief noun: e.g., ex-Governor Draper, Governor-elect Wilson, etc. 14. In compounds of by: e.g., by-laws, by-products, etc. 15. In connection with prefixes co, pre, and re when followed by words beginning with the same vowel as that in which they terminate, but not when followed by a {48} different vowel or a consonant: e.g., co-operation, but coeducation; pre-empted, but prearranged; re-elected, but recast. Exceptions: combinations with proper names, long or unusual formations, and words where the hyphen defines the meaning: e.g., re-creation and recreation, re-form and reform, re-collect and recollect, pre-Raphaelite. 16. In writing ordinal numbers when compounded with such words as first-rate, second-hand, etc. 17. In connection with the word quasi prefixed to a noun or to an adjective: e.g., quasi-corporation, quasi-compliant, etc. 18. In connection with the Latin prepositions extra, infra, semi, supra, and ultra: e.g., extra-hazardous but extraordinary; ultra-conservative but Ultramontane. 19. In spelling out fractional numbers involving more than two words: e.g., The supply is three-quarters exhausted; but, This leaves twenty-five hundredths. 20. In compounding numerals of one syllable with self-explanatory words of various meanings: e.g., three-legged, four-footed, one-armed, etc. Also in combining numerals with nouns, to form an adjective: e.g. twelve-inch rule, hundred-yard dash, two-horse team, etc. 21. In compounding a noun in the possessive case with another noun: e.g., jews’-harp, crow’s-nest, etc. {49} 22. In some compounds with tree: e.g., apple-tree; but whippletree, crosstree, etc. 23. In compounding personal epithets: e.g., hard-headed, bow-legged, etc. 24. Use the hyphen in the following words:
Do not use the hyphen:1. When writing points of the compass: e.g., northeast, southwest; but north-northeast, etc. 2. In words ending in like, unless compounded with nouns containing more than one syllable (except when ending in l): e.g., childlike, lifelike; but business-like, bell-like, etc. 3. In compounds ending with man or woman: e.g., workman, needlewoman, etc. 4. In phrases such as by and by, by the bye, good morning, attorney at law, coat of arms, etc. 5. In words ending in boat, house, look, room, side, yard, shop, mill, field, work, chair, maker, holder, keeper, skin, store, book, fold, score, penny, pence when the prefixed noun {50} contains but a single syllable: e.g., twofold, schoolroom, handbook, windmill, bookkeeper, workshop, etc. Exceptions: Court-house and State House. When prefixed noun contains two syllables, use the hyphen: e.g., bucket-shop, twenty-fold, ante-room, mason-work, paper-mill, etc. When prefixed noun contains three or more syllables write as two separate words: e.g., policy shop. 6. In compounds of bi, tri, semi, or demi: e.g., bimonthly, tricolor, semiannual, demijohn. Exceptions: long or unusual formations: e.g., bi-centennial, etc. 7. In today, 8. In connection with the negative prefixes un, in, and a: e.g., unrepublican, inanimate, etc., but the prefix non requires the hyphen except in words which have become common: e.g., non-conductor, but nonsense. 9. In connection with the words over and under employed as prefixes: e.g., overestimate, undersecretary; but over-soul, over-spiritual, under-man. 10. In connection with the Latin prepositions ante, anti, inter, intra, post, sub, and super: e.g., antedate, antidote, subtitle, etc.; but ante-room, anti-imperialistic, intra-atomic. {51} 11. In spelling out a series of fractions: e.g., I can secure you one, two, or three fifths, not one-, two-, or three-fifths. Nor in writing ordinary fractions: e.g., one half, five eighths, etc. But another class of fractions require the hyphen: e.g., twenty-fifth, twenty-two one-hundredths. 12. In compounds ending with holder or monger: e.g., stockholder, ironmonger. 13. In compounds beginning with eye: e.g., eyeglass, eyebrow, eyelash, eyewitness, etc. 14. In compounds with the word school: e.g., schoolmates, schoolmaster, etc. Exceptions: when made with a participle: e.g., school-teaching; or in combinations where separate words are more clear: e.g., school committee, school children, etc. 15. In compounds with deutero, electro, pseudo, sulpho, thermo, etc., unless the compound is unusual: e.g., electrotype, pseudonym, etc. 16. In compound adverbs: e.g., meantime, moreover, forever, everywhere, etc. But in phrases like after a while, in the mean time, for ever and ever, the words should be separated. 17. In words like anybody, anyhow, anything, anyway, anywhere, somebody, somehow, something, sometime, somewhat, somewhere. But any one and some one are written as separate words. |
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