Dashes Hyphens and Slashes

Yes, "step-by-step" is hyphenated when used as an adjective before a noun, such as in "a step-by-step guide." However, when it stands alone or follows the noun, it is typically written without hyphens, as in "The process was explained step by step."

Yes, "mid-July" is hyphenated. The hyphen is used to link "mid" and "July" to indicate that it refers to the middle part of the month. This helps clarify the meaning and ensures proper grammatical structure.

Yes, "well-developed" is hyphenated when used as a compound adjective preceding a noun. For example, you would say "a well-developed plan." However, when it follows the noun, it is typically written as two separate words, such as "the plan is well developed."

Yes, "close-up" is hyphenated when used as a noun or an adjective, such as in "She took a close-up of the flower." However, when used as an adverb, it is written as two separate words, as in "The camera zoomed in close up."

No, "one hour" is not hyphenated when used as a noun or in a sentence. However, when used as a compound adjective before a noun, it should be hyphenated, as in "one-hour meeting." In summary, the hyphenation depends on the context in which it is used.

No, "cost generating" is not typically hyphenated. It is used as a compound adjective where "cost" modifies "generating." However, if used before a noun, it may be hyphenated as "cost-generating" for clarity, such as in "cost-generating activities."

The word "remail" is typically written without a hyphen. It is a compound word formed by the prefix "re-" meaning again and "mail." In this context, it refers to the process of sending mail again, and is commonly used in various contexts related to postal services.

No, "wholly owned" is not hyphenated when used as a compound adjective. It is typically written as two separate words, as in "wholly owned subsidiary." However, if it appears before a noun and you want to emphasize it as a single descriptor, you can hyphenate it as "wholly-owned" for clarity, though this is less common.

No, "well versed" is not hyphenated when used as a phrase, such as in "She is well versed in the subject." However, when used as a compound adjective before a noun, it is often hyphenated as "well-versed," for example, "He is a well-versed expert."

Yes, "low-income" is hyphenated when used as a compound adjective before a noun, such as in "low-income families." The hyphen helps clarify that "low" modifies "income" as a single concept. However, when used after a noun, it is typically not hyphenated, as in "families that are low income."

"Well-maintained" should be hyphenated when it is used as a compound adjective before a noun. For example, you would say "the well-maintained garden." However, when it follows the noun, it should be written as two separate words, such as "the garden is well maintained."

No, "policy making" is not hyphenated when used as a noun or gerund phrase. It is typically written as two separate words, such as in "policy making is essential for effective governance." However, when used as a compound adjective before a noun, it can be hyphenated, as in "policy-making process."

Yes, "owner-occupied" is hyphenated when used as a compound adjective before a noun, such as in "owner-occupied property." The hyphen helps clarify that the owner resides in the property. However, when used as a predicate, such as "The property is owner occupied," it is typically not hyphenated.

You should hyphenate a word when it serves to clarify meaning, particularly in compound adjectives before a noun (e.g., "well-known author"). Hyphenation is also necessary for certain compound numbers (e.g., "twenty-one") and when combining prefixes with proper nouns or other capitalized words (e.g., "un-American"). Additionally, hyphens can be used to avoid confusion in phrases that could be misinterpreted without them.

Yes, "year to date" is typically written without hyphens when used in a sentence. However, when used as a compound adjective before a noun, it is often hyphenated as "year-to-date." For example, you would say "The year-to-date figures show an increase."

No, "mail order" is not hyphenated. It is commonly used as two separate words when referring to the process of ordering goods through the mail. However, when used as an adjective before a noun, it can be hyphenated, as in "mail-order business."

No, "slow motion" does not need a hyphen when used as a noun or adjective. It is typically written as two separate words, as in "The video was recorded in slow motion." However, when used as a compound adjective before a noun, it can be hyphenated, as in "slow-motion footage."

No, "nonconformity" does not have a hyphen. The term is formed by combining the prefix "non-" with the word "conformity," and it is written as a single, unhyphenated word in standard usage.

The term "postoperative" is typically written as a single word without a hyphen when used as an adjective. However, when used as a noun or in certain contexts, it may appear as "post-operative." In general, it's best to consult a specific style guide for consistency, but "postoperative" is the most common usage in medical terminology.

In an emoticon, the hyphen typically represents the eyes of the emoticon, particularly in representations of faces. For example, in the emoticon ": -)", the hyphen serves as a neutral or straight line for the eyes, while the colon represents the mouth. This usage helps convey a specific expression or emotion, such as a simple smile or a neutral face.

The term "fully executed" does not need to be hyphenated. It is commonly used as an adjective phrase to describe something that has been completed or carried out in its entirety. Hyphenation is typically unnecessary unless it precedes a noun, such as "fully-executed contract." In general usage, "fully executed" is clear and correctly understood without the hyphen.

You use a hyphen to connect two or more words that function together as a single adjective before a noun, such as "well-known author." Additionally, hyphens are used to indicate word breaks at the end of a line or to separate parts of a compound number, like "twenty-one."

Yes, "last-known address" is hyphenated. The hyphen is used to connect the words "last" and "known" to clarify that they collectively describe the noun "address." This hyphenation helps to avoid confusion about the meaning of the phrase.

Three words that commonly have hyphens are "mother-in-law," "well-being," and "twenty-one." Hyphens are often used to connect words in compound nouns, adjectives, or numbers for clarity.

No, you do not use a hyphen between "close" and "out" when they appear as a verb phrase (e.g., "to close out a project"). However, when used as a compound adjective before a noun, you might see it hyphenated (e.g., "a close-out sale"). Always consider the context to determine the appropriate usage.