Grammar Notes: Hyphens

Hyphens with Prefixes A hyphen is NOT ordinarily used to join a prefix to a word. There are a few exceptions, however. – Use a hyphen after any prefix joined to a proper noun or a proper adjective. Examples: – mid-Atlanticpost-Elizabethan

– Also, use a hyphen after the prefixes all-, ex- (meaning ‘former’), and self- joined to any noun or adjective. Examples: – ex-coach – self-confidence

– Use a hyphen after the prefix anti- when it joins a word beginning with i. Also use a hyphen after the prefix vice-, EXCEPT in vice president. Examples: – anti-icing – vice-mayor I HATE icing!!!

Use a hyphen to avoid confusion between words beginning with re- that look alike but are different in meaning and pronunciation. Examples: – re-cover the couch vs. recover the couch That new covering on the couch looks lovely! So THAT’S where our couch was!

Hyphens with compounds and numbers Use a hyphen in a compound adjective that precedes a noun. In general, a compound adjective that follows a noun is not hyphenated. – Examples: dark-green eyes vs. Her eyes are dark green. fifteen-year-old aunt vs. Her aunt is fifteen years old.

Hyphenate any spelled-out number up to ninety-nine. – Examples: sixty-foureighty-two

Hyphenate a fraction that is expressed in words. Examples: one-eighth one-quarter one-half

Hyphenate two numerals to indicate a span. Examples: pages HYPHENS!!!

PRACTICE 1.Twenty four 1.Twenty-four 2.Her coat is light-blue. 1.Her coat is light blue. 3.I read pages Correct!

1.I am anti instant pudding. 1.I am anti-instant pudding. 2.He wants to be vice-president. 1.He wants to be vice president. 3.I like the post-Victorian time period. 1.Correct!