Dashes Hyphens and Slashes

The term "whole body" is typically not hyphenated when used as a noun phrase, as in "the whole body of evidence." However, it can be hyphenated as "whole-body" when used as a compound adjective before a noun, such as in "whole-body workout." The hyphenation helps clarify that the two words function together to describe a single concept.

No, "twenty-ninth" is hyphenated. When writing out ordinal numbers that combine a number and a suffix (like -th), a hyphen is used to connect the two parts. So, it should be written as "twenty-ninth."

Some hyphenated words beginning with "b" include "baby-sitter," "back-to-back," "bite-sized," and "blood-red." These words combine two or more concepts to convey a specific meaning, often enhancing clarity in communication. Hyphenation is useful in compound modifiers and phrases.

No, "federally owned" is not hyphenated. When used as a compound adjective, it is typically written as two separate words. However, if it appears before a noun to modify it, it can be used as "federally-owned property," where "federally-owned" is hyphenated to clarify that both words together describe the noun.

No, you do not need hyphens for "great aunt." It is correctly written as two separate words. However, when used as a compound adjective before a noun, it can be hyphenated, as in "my great-aunt's house."

Yes, "widely acclaimed" is typically written without a hyphen. In this phrase, "widely" functions as an adverb modifying the adjective "acclaimed," and adverb-adjective combinations generally do not require hyphenation. However, if it were used as a compound adjective before a noun, you might see it hyphenated as "widely-acclaimed artist."

No, "reenroll" does not have a hyphen. It is written as a single word without a hyphen, following the common practice of combining prefixes with verbs. Similarly, other words like "rebuild" and "rethink" also do not use a hyphen.

"Good-bye" traditionally has a hyphen to indicate that it is a compound word formed from "good" and "bye," which is a variation of "goodbye." The hyphen helps clarify the relationship between the two parts, signaling that they combine to convey a single idea of parting. However, it is commonly written as "goodbye" without a hyphen in modern usage. The hyphenated form is less common today but can still be seen in certain contexts.

No, "rescheduled" is not hyphenated. It is a compound word formed by the prefix "re-" and the verb "scheduled." When combining a prefix with a verb, it typically remains unhyphenated in standard usage.

Yes, "overall" is typically not hyphenated when used as an adjective or adverb. For example, you would write "the overall quality" or "overall, the results were positive." However, if used as a compound modifier before a noun, such as "overall-performance evaluation," it can be hyphenated for clarity.

No, you don't hyphenate every single person. Hyphenation typically occurs when two individuals share a last name after marriage or when combining adjectives. In general writing, names are usually written without hyphens unless specific stylistic choices or rules apply.

"Midyear" is typically written as a single word without a hyphen when used as an adjective or noun. However, "mid-year" with a hyphen can also be acceptable in some contexts, especially when it precedes a noun. Overall, the choice between the two can depend on style guides or personal preference, but "midyear" is more commonly used.

No, "outpatient" is not hyphenated. It is a compound word that is commonly used in medical contexts to refer to patients who receive care without being admitted to a hospital. Therefore, it should be written as a single word.

Yes, you should use a hyphen between "month" and "end" when referring to the term "month-end." Therefore, the correct phrasing would be "from November month-end onward." This hyphenation clarifies that "month-end" is a compound adjective describing a specific time.

Yes, "pre-surgical" is hyphenated. The hyphen connects the prefix "pre" with the word "surgical," indicating that it refers to something occurring before surgery. This hyphenation helps clarify that the term describes a specific context related to surgery.

The term "sugar-free" should be hyphenated when used as an adjective before a noun, such as in "sugar-free cookies." However, when used as a predicate, it can be written without a hyphen, as in "These cookies are sugar free." The hyphen helps clarify that the two words function together as a single descriptor.

Yes, the word "aged" has a stress mark. In English phonetics, it is typically pronounced with the stress on the first syllable, as in /ˈeɪ.dʒɪd/. The stress mark indicates that the first syllable is emphasized when the word is spoken.

Yes, "three-year plan" should be hyphenated. The hyphen connects the words "three" and "year" to indicate that they collectively modify the noun "plan." This helps to clarify that the plan is specifically designed for a duration of three years.

Yes, "cross currents" should be hyphenated as "cross-currents" when used as a compound adjective before a noun. For example, you would write "cross-currents influences" to clarify that the currents are of a cross nature. However, when used alone, such as "the cross currents were strong," it does not require a hyphen.

Hyphenation is typically used to join words or separate syllables, rather than for emphasis. However, some writers may use hyphens creatively for stylistic purposes to draw attention to a particular word or to create a specific effect. It's important to ensure that such usage remains clear and does not confuse the reader. In most formal writing, though, traditional emphasis techniques like italics or bold text are preferred.

Yes, "mid-forties" should be hyphenated. The hyphen helps clarify that "mid" modifies "forties" as a single concept, indicating the range of ages from approximately 43 to 47. Without the hyphen, the meaning could be less clear.

Yes, "site-specific" is hyphenated. The hyphen is used to connect the words "site" and "specific" to indicate that they function together as a single adjective describing a noun, such as in "site-specific art." This helps clarify that the specificity pertains to a particular site.

Yes, you typically hyphenate "one-quarter" when it is used as an adjective before a noun, such as in "one-quarter cup." However, when it stands alone as a noun, it is usually written without a hyphen, as in "I ate one quarter of the pizza."

Yes, the word "re-appointment" can be hyphenated. The prefix "re-" is often hyphenated when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel or when it helps clarify the meaning. In this case, hyphenating "re-appointment" helps distinguish it from the word "appointment" and indicates the action of appointing again.

The term "parent" is not hyphenated when used as a standalone noun. However, it can be hyphenated in compound phrases, such as "parent-teacher conference" or "parent-child relationship," where it modifies another noun. In these cases, the hyphen helps clarify the relationship between the words.