Answer: Hyphenating Compound Words
Anonymous asks: Is there a rule of thumb about hyphenating compound words?
With examples from Stargate SG-1, The X-Files, and Heroes.
First, let's establish what a "compound word" is. In English compound words are two or more separate words that, when combined, form a new word. There are three "types" of compound words:
1. Open compound - separate words forming a nominal phrase. Example: Christmas tree.
2. Closed compound - separate words combined to form a new single word. Example: scorekeeper.
3. Hyphenated compound - something of an in between state of the first two, where the separate words are still separate but written with a hyphen between them. Example: half-baked (notice there are no spaces around the hyphen).
So, you have a compound word and you want to know whether or not to stick a hyphen in it. If you're unsure, your best bet is to check a good dictionary. There aren't many hard and fast rules when it comes to hyphenating compounds, and there are a lot of exceptions to those rules.
An important thing to keep in mind is that in the evolution of the English language, the trend is away from hyphens. Generally, old and/or common compound words have grammatically settled into either open or closed forms, while newly coined or more esoteric compounds will be more likely to have a hyphen.
Compound Modifiers
Many compound words that require hyphens are compound modifiers, which typically consist of an adjective modifying another adjective. The resulting phrase is itself a modifier of a noun. Keep in mind that compound modifiers require hyphens when they occur before the noun they are modifying, but not when they occur after.
Example: Daniel gingerly picked up the sun-baked pottery SG-13 had brought back from their latest reconnaissance mission.
Example: Once Mulder was well known among UFO conspiracy groups, but he fell off their radar long ago.
There are exceptions, so when in doubt, consult a dictionary. The main reason to hyphenate compound modifiers is to clarify meaning.
Example: O'Neill demanded to speak to the ancient-curios dealer.
With the hyphen in place in that sentence, we know that the dealer specializes in ancient curios, and that he's not a curios dealer who is elderly.
Also, if the compound modifier contains an adverb, hyphens are generally not used.
Example: Mohinder squinted at Peter's badly drawn stick figures. "What are these even supposed to mean?" he asked.
For more information, see the section on compound modifiers in skroberts's excellent post on appropriate hyphen usage.
Other Compound Words
Hyphens in compound words are almost always used to clarify meaning and avoid awkward construction in English. For example, if the combination of words leads to the doubling of a vowel or the tripling of a consonant, a hyphen should be used.
Example: SG-1 marveled at how familiar and mall-like this planet's marketplaces were.
Example: The co-occurrence of two major astronomical events resulted in the space-time rip that dumped SG-1 into a parallel universe.
There are exceptions, however. Compound words with common prefixes such as re-, pre-, co-, etc. are often not hyphenated. As you might have noticed, this exception didn't apply in the previous example, where "co-occurence" is used as a verb. It is common for the hyphen to remain in instances where the compound word is used as a verb, and to be dropped when the compound word is used as a noun or an adjective.
Example: "We appreciate your cooperation in this matter, Mr. Petrelli," said the goon on the right.
Like with compound modifiers above, ages that occur before the noun they modify should be hyphenated, but not when they occure after the noun.
Example: The six-year-old boy grinned at Bennet, reminding the man so much of his daughter that he nearly lost his resolve.
Example: The boy was six years old, and seeing him reminded Bennet so much of his daughter that he nearly lost his resolve.
Compounds composed of more than two words are usually hyphenated, regardless of the part of speech they represent.
Example: Teal'c raised one irate eyebrow at the annoying, know-it-all native.
Example: Heidi Petrelli had always been suspicious of her mother-in-law.
Hyphens are also not used if the compound word is a proper noun.
Example: Scully eyed the South American tribal mask warily, then shook her head at her own foolishness. There was no such thing as curses.
This cannot be a completely comprehensive guide to hyphenating compound words, simply because the rules can get sticky with so many exceptions. Once again, a dictionary can be your best friend.
With examples from Stargate SG-1, The X-Files, and Heroes.
First, let's establish what a "compound word" is. In English compound words are two or more separate words that, when combined, form a new word. There are three "types" of compound words:
1. Open compound - separate words forming a nominal phrase. Example: Christmas tree.
2. Closed compound - separate words combined to form a new single word. Example: scorekeeper.
3. Hyphenated compound - something of an in between state of the first two, where the separate words are still separate but written with a hyphen between them. Example: half-baked (notice there are no spaces around the hyphen).
So, you have a compound word and you want to know whether or not to stick a hyphen in it. If you're unsure, your best bet is to check a good dictionary. There aren't many hard and fast rules when it comes to hyphenating compounds, and there are a lot of exceptions to those rules.
An important thing to keep in mind is that in the evolution of the English language, the trend is away from hyphens. Generally, old and/or common compound words have grammatically settled into either open or closed forms, while newly coined or more esoteric compounds will be more likely to have a hyphen.
Compound Modifiers
Many compound words that require hyphens are compound modifiers, which typically consist of an adjective modifying another adjective. The resulting phrase is itself a modifier of a noun. Keep in mind that compound modifiers require hyphens when they occur before the noun they are modifying, but not when they occur after.
Example: Daniel gingerly picked up the sun-baked pottery SG-13 had brought back from their latest reconnaissance mission.
Example: Once Mulder was well known among UFO conspiracy groups, but he fell off their radar long ago.
There are exceptions, so when in doubt, consult a dictionary. The main reason to hyphenate compound modifiers is to clarify meaning.
Example: O'Neill demanded to speak to the ancient-curios dealer.
With the hyphen in place in that sentence, we know that the dealer specializes in ancient curios, and that he's not a curios dealer who is elderly.
Also, if the compound modifier contains an adverb, hyphens are generally not used.
Example: Mohinder squinted at Peter's badly drawn stick figures. "What are these even supposed to mean?" he asked.
For more information, see the section on compound modifiers in skroberts's excellent post on appropriate hyphen usage.
Other Compound Words
Hyphens in compound words are almost always used to clarify meaning and avoid awkward construction in English. For example, if the combination of words leads to the doubling of a vowel or the tripling of a consonant, a hyphen should be used.
Example: SG-1 marveled at how familiar and mall-like this planet's marketplaces were.
Example: The co-occurrence of two major astronomical events resulted in the space-time rip that dumped SG-1 into a parallel universe.
There are exceptions, however. Compound words with common prefixes such as re-, pre-, co-, etc. are often not hyphenated. As you might have noticed, this exception didn't apply in the previous example, where "co-occurence" is used as a verb. It is common for the hyphen to remain in instances where the compound word is used as a verb, and to be dropped when the compound word is used as a noun or an adjective.
Example: "We appreciate your cooperation in this matter, Mr. Petrelli," said the goon on the right.
Like with compound modifiers above, ages that occur before the noun they modify should be hyphenated, but not when they occure after the noun.
Example: The six-year-old boy grinned at Bennet, reminding the man so much of his daughter that he nearly lost his resolve.
Example: The boy was six years old, and seeing him reminded Bennet so much of his daughter that he nearly lost his resolve.
Compounds composed of more than two words are usually hyphenated, regardless of the part of speech they represent.
Example: Teal'c raised one irate eyebrow at the annoying, know-it-all native.
Example: Heidi Petrelli had always been suspicious of her mother-in-law.
Hyphens are also not used if the compound word is a proper noun.
Example: Scully eyed the South American tribal mask warily, then shook her head at her own foolishness. There was no such thing as curses.
This cannot be a completely comprehensive guide to hyphenating compound words, simply because the rules can get sticky with so many exceptions. Once again, a dictionary can be your best friend.