Hyphenation
Following is a list of compounds (hyphened, single words, or two separate words) that frequently cause disagreement. For questions of hyphenation not covered here, refer to the dictionary.
The common rules are as follows:
- Use a hyphen when using adjectives before a noun: high-paid player, three-day suspension
- Do not use a hyphen when the modifier occurs after a verb: That basketball player is highly paid. Her suspension lasted three days.
- When making an abrupt change in a sentence, don't use a hyphen. Use a long dash (also called an em dash): Be careful what you say—you never know who is listening.
airtight
all right (never allright or alright)
awhile (as in wait awhile; but: It was quite a while before we saw him again)
backyard (n.), back-yard (adj.)
brand-new (avoid this compound except in quotations; new is sufficient)
break-out sessions
build up (v.), buildup (n.)
cameraman
campus wide
candlelight, candlestick, candlepower
cannot
carload
check in (v.), check-in (n.)
check out (v.), checkout (n.)
citywide
classmate, classroom
clean up (v.), cleanup (n.)
clear-cut (adj.)
close out (v.), closeout (n.)
cooperate (but: co-op)
cost-effective (both preceding and following the noun; this is a cost-effective method; this method is cost-effective)
course work
cut off (v.), cutoff (n.)
dark-eyed, dark-haired
deadline
dinner dance
easygoing
e-mail
every day (adv.), everyday (adj.)
first-year (adj.), first year (n.)
fund raising
giveaway (n.)
goodbye
goodnight (inter;.), good-night (adj., as in good-night kiss)
goodwill (n.), good-will (adj., as in good-will ambassador)
handmade
health care
high-priced
high-quality (adj.)
homemade
hometown (n.), home-town (adj.)
horsepower
inasmuch
infrared
insofar
insomuch
life cycle (n.), life-cycle (adj.), as in life-cycle costs
lifestyle (avoid this word except in quotations)
likewise
line up (v.), lineup (n.)
long term (n.), long-term (adj.)
maintenance man
make up (v.), makeup (n.)
managed care
man-hour
man-made
manpower
microorganism
multidisciplinary
multimedia
multimillion-dollar (adj.)
nationwide
nearby
nonetheless
nonstop
off campus, off-campus (adj.)
offshore
oilmen
old-timer
one-sided
online
overall (adj.)
passerby
paycheck
payday
percent
pipeline
postcard
post office
postwar
presstime
ready-made
reelect
reestablish
refill
reuse
school board
schoolbook
schoolroom
second-year (adj.), second year (n.). Note: When referencing Second Year Institute, do not hyphenate. This is an official program name.
shipyard
short term (n.), short-term (adj.)
shut off (v.), shutoff (n.)
sightseeing
sign in
sign out
sign up
springtime
start up (v.), start-up (n.)
statewide
tailor-made
teammate
teenage, teenager
trademark
up-to-date (adj. preceding noun)
upper-class (adj.), upper class (n.)
website (Web)
weekend
well-being
well-known (adj., as in a well-known air pollution model. But: This air pollution model is well known)
worldwide (adj.)
World Wide Web
X-ray