Dashes Hyphens and Slashes

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.

Yes, a hyphen is typically used in the phrase "rose-colored glasses" when it functions as a compound adjective preceding a noun. The hyphen helps clarify that the glasses are tinted a shade of rose, rather than suggesting separate ideas. However, when used as a noun phrase, the hyphen may be omitted, as in "She wore rose colored glasses."

The term "end to end" is typically not hyphenated when used as a phrase to describe a process or solution, as in "end to end services." However, when used as a compound adjective before a noun, it can be hyphenated, such as in "end-to-end solution." Always consider the context to determine the appropriate usage.

No, "good looking" does not have a hyphen when used as a predicate adjective, as in "She is good looking." However, when used as a compound adjective before a noun, it is often hyphenated: "He is a good-looking man."

The term "pro-British" requires a hyphen to clarify that it is a compound adjective describing a supportive stance towards British people or culture. The hyphen helps to avoid ambiguity and ensures that "pro" is clearly linked to "British," indicating a specific meaning rather than interpreting "pro" and "British" as separate elements. Without the hyphen, the phrase could be misread or lose its intended meaning.

A hyphen is a punctuation mark (-) used in writing to connect words or parts of words. It often serves to create compound words, indicate word breaks at the end of lines, or clarify meaning by linking related terms. For example, it appears in words like "well-being" and "mother-in-law." It is distinct from a dash, which has a different function and appearance.

No, "closeby" is typically written as two separate words: "close by." In standard usage, it's an adverb describing proximity. However, in some informal contexts, you might see it hyphenated as "close-by," but the most common and accepted form is without a hyphen.