The (Hip) Hyphen: -
No, no! Not "hymen"--totally different! Do NOT confuse!
Back in the days before computers and word processors, if you got to the end of a line with only room for half your word, you could use a hyphen to con- tinue the word on the next line.
You have our permission to still do that if your needs and lack of a word processor demand it.
You also have our permission to:
Use the hyphen for words to indicate a number between twenty-one and ninety-nine
Use the hyphen for words to describe fractions: five-sixths, seven-eighths, two-thirds
Combine two words into one modifier: over-the-hill age bracket, well-muscled young man, none-too-smart a response.
Clear up an otherwise messy combination of words that lead to double lettering:
semi intelligent (Yucky!) semi-intelligent (Awright!); preselection (Blechhh!) pre-election (Ahhh!)
After a prefix that comes before a capitalized word: un-American, mid-August, pro-Redsox. . .
With the prefixes "self-" and "ex-" : self-important, ex-soldier
Some dictionaries allow the hyphen with other prefixes. When in doubt, check in the same dictionary your teacher uses.
To return to Step Two, please click : Step Two.
