COMPOUND AND DERIVATIVE WORDS rule 102. Good usage requires that in some compound and General derivative words the components shall be separated by the hyphen, and that other shall be written "solid." In writing a word belonging to the first class, one should not, if one cares to write correctly, omit the hyphen; in writing a word of the second class, one should not use the hyphen; and in writing a word of either class, one should not put down the components as separate words. No simple rule can be given for determining whether a compound or derivative word should be hyphened or written solid. One must learn largely from observation and from consulting a dictionary in doubtful cases. The following generalizations may be useful: Classes of Words to be Hyphened 1 2 103. Nouns composed of a noun preceded by ex Ex-mayor should be hyphened. (Cf. Rule 201.) Right: ex-president, ex-mayor, ex-senator. etc. 104. Most titles beginning with vice may be written Vicehyphened or with their components entirely separated. president etc. vice admiral vice chancellor vice consul vice-admiral vice-chancellor vice-consul But viceroy and vicegerent should be written solid. 1 See Exercise 655. 2 See the Grammatical Vocabulary, pp. 360 ff. 63 Passer-by etc. Half-mile etc. Cup-like etc. Noun plus 105. Compound nouns1 made up of a noun plus an adverb1 should be hyphened. Right passer-by, passers-by, hanger-on, hangers-on. 1 106. Compound nouns made up of half or quarter plus another noun should be hyphened. Right: half-hour, quarter-inch, half-mile. But note: Right: half an hour, half a mile. 1 107. Extemporized adjectives in like should be hyphened. Right: cup-like, rope-like, moss-like. 108. But adjectives of this formation that are in common use should be written solid. Right: childlike, godlike, businesslike, ladylike. 109. Most adjectives made up of a noun1 plus an adjective adjective should be hyphened. Brighteyed etc. Eagleeyed etc. Right: dirt-cheap, coal-black, sea-green, sky-blue, bloodred, honey-sweet, fire-proof, water-tight, air-tight, crystal-clear, wine-dark. 110. Most adjectives1 made up of an adjective plus a noun1 plus d or ed should be hyphened. : Right bright-eyed, dark-haired, red-headed, nearsighted, left-handed, strong-minded, sweet-voiced, dark-complexioned, silver-tongued, old-fashioned, sixtined, three-handled. 111. Most adjectives1 made up of a noun1 plus a noun plus d or ed should be hyphened. Right: eagle-eyed, bullet-headed, bull-necked, bowlegged, cross-eyed, pig-headed, leather-lunged. 1 See the Grammatical Vocabulary, pp. 360 ff. 112. Adjectives1 composed of a monosyllabic1 adverb1 Farplus a present participle1 should be hyphened." Right far-reaching, low-lying, high-soaring, well- 113. Adverbs in ly are not usually joined to following Right: softly falling feet, steadily increasing cold. But see Rule 124. reaching etc. 114. An expression made up of a passive participle1 Wellpreceded by a monosyllabic1 adverb1 or by before or above educated, should be hyphened when used attributively.1 Right a close-hauled ship, a well-educated man, a so- etc. if attributive 115. But such an expression should not be hyphened Not otherwhen used otherwise than attributively. Right: an ill-arranged library. [Attributive.] [Predicate Right The library is ill arranged. Right: The library, ill arranged and dusty, was no wise 116. Expressions composed of a passive participle1 plus Worn-out an adverb1 should be hyphened when used attributively, etc. if at but not otherwise. Right a worn-out coat. [Attributive.] [Finite 1 verb.] Right: The coat is worn out. [Predicate1 adjective.] Right a trumped-up charge, a burnt-out fire. : tributive.] [At 117. An expression composed of a numeral plus a noun should be hyphened when used attributively.1 1 See the Grammatical Vocabulary, pp. 360 ff. 1 tributive Threeinch etc. if attributive Selfpossessed etc. Right: a three-inch screw, two four-cylinder engines, a two-thirds majority, an eight-oar boat, a seven-eighthsinch board, a two-hundred-horse-power engine, a fivehundred-page book, a seven-dollar bathing suit. 118. Expressions consisting of a participle1 preceded by a substantive1 denoting an agent or an agency or means should be hyphened. self-possessed Thus : Noun, self-confessed self-appointed self-constituted worm-eaten water-soaked iron-clad tapestry-covered mud-encrusted silver-plated fur-lined travel-stained grief-stricken Agent God-given heaven-sent a king-ridden nation a hen-pecked husband Agency or means crime-infested a blood-rusted key "The iron-bound bucket, the moss-covered bucket" 119. Expressions consisting of a noun,1 an adjective,1 adjective, a participle, or a gerund1 preceded by the name of participle, or gerund an object acted upon or concerned should usually be preceded by object hyphened. Thus: Noun preceded by name of object acted on L 120. Most compound nouns1 and adjectives1 made up More of more than two components should be hyphened. Right: merry-go-round, devil-may-care, man-of-war, Note that nevertheless, inasmuch, nowadays, notwithstanding are not nouns or adjectives. (See Rule 129.) than two compo nents 121. Adverbs1 composed of fashion preceded by a Adverbs noun1 or an adjective1 should be hyphened. Right: He played the fiddle banjo-fashion. It was in fashion 122. The adverbs to-day, to-night, and to-morrow To-day, should be hyphened. to-night, to-morrow 123. Good-by (or good-bye) should be hyphened, Good-by whether used as an interjection or as a noun. 1 See the Grammatical Vocabulary, pp. 360 ff. |