When to use hyphens

Hyphens Guide: Functions and Examples

The functions the hyphen appear to be straightforward, but exceptions and inconsistencies abound. This post serves as a guide to the recommendations of The Chicago Manual of Style regarding hyphenation.

Hyphens are often introduced when new noun compounds are created, including in technological vocabulary, but such terms usually become closed compounds, though there are exceptions, such as mind-set and light-year. Other exceptions include constructions with certain first or second elements, such as in the case of self-respect and president-elect, and noun combinations such as city-state and writer-director.

Some terms that include letters linked to nouns retain hyphenation (A-list, T-bone, X-axis). Omission of a hyphen in email is trending, but similar terms such as e-commerce resist this evolution. Some prefixes take hyphens (anti-inflammatory, “non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” and nouns preceded by ex, such as ex-partner), though most prefixes do not require them. Hyphens also represent expression, in isolation, of a prefix or a word element (pre-, -er) when construction of a word using that prefix would otherwise not require a hyphen. Another use of hyphens is with words to be distinguished from nonhyphenated homographs (co-op, re-creation).

Other special cases for hyphenation with nouns include relationship terms preceded by great (great-grandmother) and in-law as well as combinations using in-law (sister-in-law), some compound nouns beginning with vice (vice-consul), constructions ending in odd (hundred-odd), and terms for compound nationalities where the first element is altered to end in o (Anglo-American), but not others that are no so altered (Italian American).

Hyphens link some double and even triple and quadruple surnames (“Lobelia Sackville-Baggins”), though not all double-, triple-, or quadruple-barreled surnames, as they are also called, are hyphenated (“Sacha Baron Cohen”). They also sometimes connect double first names, as in “Jean-Paul,” although this usage is rare in English names. Some company and product names use hyphens (Bristol-Meyers Squibb, EZ-Kleen).

Hyphens are employed in spelled-out numerical terms representing different place values (twenty-four), in fractions (as in one-third), and in number sequences, such as phone numbers and Social Security numbers, and number groupings, such as dates styled entirely in numerals.
One of the most common uses of hyphens is in words in phrasal adjectives preceding but not following a noun (“short-term investment,” “off-the-cuff remark”) and when combining similar-looking constructions that begin with comparative adverbs such as better, much, and well (“best-kept secret”).

Some style manuals (but not this site) recommend that phrasal adjectives be hyphenated regardless of their position, and a few such expressions (such as far-reaching) are always hyphenated regardless of position or style authority. Also, a letter space should never intervene when a hyphen connects two words or numbers, except when suspending the first use of a word common to two or more phrasal adjectives (“fifteen- and thirty-day increments”).

If a hyphenation links one word with an open compound, use an en dash rather than a comma to clarify that the symbol links the word to the entire compound, not just the element of the compound adjacent to the symbol: “pre–ice age migration,” “post–World War I recovery,” “mountain lodge–style ambience,” “Stephen Curry–level ball handling.” (The rule does not apply to abbreviations standing for open compounds, so use a hyphen, for example, in “US-Mexico border.”) If a compound is already hyphenated, use an additional hyphen to connect a word or prefix, as in “non-English-speaking actors” (extending from “English-speaking actors”).

When are hyphens used erroneously? When adverbs ending in -ly are mistakenly attached to the words that follow (as in “richly-detailed design”) and when adjectives are wrongly hyphenated to nouns (“near-term”). And although verb phrases are often hyphenated (test-drive), those words, as used in “I’m taking it for a test drive,” do not constitute a verb phrase.

When in doubt about whether to insert or omit a hyphen, consult a dictionary or a style manual, or check a publication’s or organization’s house style guide if you are writing for one.

Hyphens are also employed to break a word across two lines of type. Such breaks should occur between syllables, as demonstrated in a dictionary, but many publications choose to avoid this use of hyphens for aesthetic and practical reasons. If they are employed, it is recommended that type be adjusted so that no more than two end-of-line hyphens appear in a row and that they not be used at the end of the last line of a column or a page. (In addition, words that already include a hyphen should not be broken across two lines of type except at the existing hyphen.) Also, they are not advised for headlines and other large-type elements.

An issue related to hyphenation is capitalization of hyphenated terms in headlines and titles. Capitalize the following elements according to the recommendations of The Chicago Manual of Style:

• the first element
• subsequent elements except for articles; prepositions; coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, nor, and or); and flat, sharp, and the like following letters denoting musical keys and chords
• the second element if it is a proper noun or proper adjective following a prefix or similar form that does not stand by itself as a word (Anti-, Pre-, and so on)
• the second element in a hyphenated spelled-out number (Fifty-One, Twenty-Fifth, and so on) or hyphenated simple fraction (“Two-Thirds Vote”).

Source: https://www.dailywritingtips.com

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41 Words That Are Better Than Good

The soul of writing is specificity, yet all too often, we lean on general-purpose words instead of choosing the most precise ones. Most of our daily communication probably depends on less than 1,000 words.

Of course, that includes words such as you, I, is, are, of, and for, which are already the best words for the job. I admit that sometimes in conversation, I deliberately limit my vocabulary because I don’t want others to look at me quizzically: “Who does he think he is, anyway: one of the authors of a writing tips blog?”

The result is vague, even boring, conversation, using words so general, they could fit almost everything in the world.

How was your trip? Fine.

How do you feel? Good.

Choosing other words is no improvement, if we always choose the same words. A world where everything is cool or awesome is not much more interesting than a world where everything is fine or good.

So let’s buck the trend. Here are 41 alternatives to good that can’t be used to describe everything in the world because they each have specific meanings, or at least, different connotations.

1. breathtaking – amazing, surprising, astonishing, enough to make you gasp with pleasure, and almost enough to make you forget to breathe.
2. choice – preferred, prized, specially selected. In New Zealand, the exclamation “Choice!” is used similarly to “Great!” in the United States.
3. dazzling – amazing, splendid, brilliant, shining so bright that it’s hard to see it.
4. delectable – highly delicious, usually describing food, from the Latin for “delight.”
5. delightful – causing joy, delight or pleasure, producing positive emotion, with the same Latin root as “delectable.”
6. deluxe – high quality, related to luxury, from the Latin for “excess.”
7. enjoyable – pleasant, bringing pleasure and satisfaction – bringing joy.
8. excellent – superior, best in its class, of the highest quality, making a person shout “Excelsior!”
9. exceptional – uncommon, rare, and better for being so.
10. exemplary – an example of high quality, a model for others.
11. fine – delicate, exquisite, almost as good as it gets. Related to the French and Latin words for “finished” and “exact.” Overused until often it merely means “acceptable.”
12. exquisite – exceptionally fine or rare, with the sense of extreme
13. favorable – helpful, encouraging, positive, convenient, such as getting hoped-for results.
14. first-rate – exceptionally good, in the highest class. Describing a British naval vessel with more than 100 guns.
15. first-string – the starting players on a sports team; that is, the best of them. Many other expressions begin with the word first.
16. five-star – from the hotel rating system in which a five-star hotel is among the world’s best.
17. formidable – causing awe, respect, wonder or even fear, perhaps because it’s so large or strong.
18. gilt-edged – high quality, from the practice of putting a thin layer of gold on the edges of a book.
19. gratifying – pleasing, satisfying, making someone content.
20. incredible – amazing, beyond belief, almost too good to be true.
21. luxurious – fine or comfortable, such as an expensive hotel room. I use it to show gratitude for a gift that is too fancy for my tastes.
22. magnificent – splendid, elegant, noble. From the Latin word for “great deeds.”
23. opulent – showy, extravagant, magnificent, sumptuous – more than luxurious, with the sense of “more than you really need”
24. pleasing – giving cheer, pleasure, or enjoyment – something that pleases you
25. positive – certain, good, favorable. Currently used in expressions such as “positive energy” or “positive vibes.”
26. precious – beloved, valuable, worthy, of high price. “Precious” writing is euphuistic: overly cute and takes itself too seriously.
27. prime – first, as in first quality.
28. rare – uncommon, scarce, and therefore valuable. The gravestone of an influential English playwright is inscribed with the (misspelled) tribute “O rare Ben Johnson”.
29. satisfying – sufficient, pleasing, more than adequate.
30. select – privileged, specially chosen, high-quality.
31. shipshape – well-organized, fully prepared, meticulous, tidy. Before you embark on an ocean voyage, you want your ship to be in shape.
32. sound – healthy, solid, secure, complete. If a floor is sound, you won’t fall through.
33. sterling – of high, verifiable value, as in sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver. Originally referring to British coins, which had a star or a starling on them in the Middle Ages.
34. striking – impressive, memorable, calling to mind the striking of a coin.
35. sumptuous – costly, expensive, as in a meal with many courses of great variety. We’ve got a whole article about sumptuous.
36. top-notch – belonging to the highest level, possibly from some 19th century game that used notches to keep score.
37. subtle – clever and crafty, though that’s an older meaning. A subtle flavor is not overbearing, and the chef will be pleased if you tell him so.
38. up to snuff – meeting the standard, adequate, sharp. Snuff is a more expensive powdered tobacco, which was sniffed by higher-class gentlemen as a stimulant in the 19th century.
39. valuable – worthy of esteem, having high worth or value.
40. welcome – anticipated, a pleasure to see, received with gladness, as in “welcome news.” From the Old English for “a wished-for guest.”
41. well-made – built right, properly constructed, sound.

Source: https://www.dailywritingtips.com/41-words-that-are-better-than-good/

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