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Ryansamturner Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
When to hyphenate?
I have written the below sentences, and have a hyphenated word in each one, however, I am not entirely sure if my use is correct. Could someone please advise on them?
'I've seen the failings of them first-hand.'
'I was going for a check-up.'
'I had the folded-up paper in my hand.'
'It was non-existent to me.'
'We were having a stand-off.'
'I was stress-free and happy.'
'I only really worked part-time.'
'She put her make-up on.'
'The puddle had dried-up.'
'My trainers were covered in dried-up mud and dirt.'
'I put down the tea-stained cup.'
'An over-tanned lady handed my a cup.'
'I could hear a high-pitched ringing sound.'
'In mid-air, I felt relieved.'
'We were in mid-flight.'
Thanks
Ryan
'I've seen the failings of them first-hand.'
'I was going for a check-up.'
'I had the folded-up paper in my hand.'
'It was non-existent to me.'
'We were having a stand-off.'
'I was stress-free and happy.'
'I only really worked part-time.'
'She put her make-up on.'
'The puddle had dried-up.'
'My trainers were covered in dried-up mud and dirt.'
'I put down the tea-stained cup.'
'An over-tanned lady handed my a cup.'
'I could hear a high-pitched ringing sound.'
'In mid-air, I felt relieved.'
'We were in mid-flight.'
Thanks
Ryan
Top answer
'. There should be no hyphen in this case. Some of them could also be written as one word but it all comes down to personal preference.
- '.
- There should be no hyphen in this case.
- Some of them could also be written as one word but it all comes down to personal preference.
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27 Answers
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They all seem acceptable to me, except for 'The puddle had dried-up.'. There should be no hyphen in this case.
Some of them could also be written as one word but it all comes down to personal preference.
Some of them could also be written as one word but it all comes down to personal preference.
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Thanks. Can you advise of the words that could also be one word?
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ryansamturnerThanks. Can you advise of the words that could also be one word?checkup
nonexistent
standoff
makeup
I would prefer to see the rest of them hyphenated.
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Can you explain why 'dried up' should baby hyphenated in one instance, but not the other.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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ryansamturner'The puddle had dried up.''My trainers were covered in dried-up mud and dirt.'In the first, '[had] dried up' is a phrasal verb; in the second 'dried-up [mud]' is an adjective.
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Thanks. Would you agree with my other examples? And also the comment above about some words being optional to hyphenate?
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ryansamturner Would you agree with my other examples? And also the comment above about some words being optional to hyphenate?Yes, overall.
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Here are some general rules:
Adjectives derived from phrasal verbs cannot be written as one word. Nouns derived from phrasal verbs usually can be written both ways. Adjectives with the "non" prefix are often written as one word. Adjectives formed by combining a noun with the past participle of a verb, such as "tea-stained", should be hyphenated.
Adjectives derived from phrasal verbs cannot be written as one word. Nouns derived from phrasal verbs usually can be written both ways. Adjectives with the "non" prefix are often written as one word. Adjectives formed by combining a noun with the past participle of a verb, such as "tea-stained", should be hyphenated.
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Thanks.
What about 'power-walked'.
'I power-walked home from work.'
I've been writing it without a hyphen but now believe that's wrong.
What about 'power-walked'.
'I power-walked home from work.'
I've been writing it without a hyphen but now believe that's wrong.
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ryansamturnerWhat about 'power-walked'. 'I power-walked home from work.'I've been writing it without a hyphen but now believe that's wrong.I, too, would hypehenate it.
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