Dashes Hyphens and Slashes

No, "attorney general" should not be hyphenated. It is a noun phrase where "attorney" serves as a modifier for "general," and in standard usage, it is written as two separate words. Hyphenation is not necessary in this case, as the phrase is widely recognized and understood without it.

An en dash looks like a horizontal line that is slightly longer than a hyphen but shorter than an em dash. It is typically used to indicate a range of values, such as dates or numbers (e.g., 2010–2020). In typography, it is often represented as a single character, distinct from both the hyphen (-) and the em dash (—).

No, "out of town" does not require a hyphen when used as a prepositional phrase. However, if you use it as a compound adjective before a noun, you would typically hyphenate it, as in "out-of-town guests." Always consider the context to determine whether hyphenation is necessary.

Hyphens are used in writing to connect words or parts of words, helping to clarify meaning and improve readability. They are commonly employed in compound adjectives (e.g., "well-known author"), to indicate word breaks at the end of lines, and in certain prefixes and suffixes (e.g., "re-enter"). Additionally, hyphens can help avoid ambiguity in phrases, ensuring that the intended meaning is clear to the reader.

No, "mid-morning" is typically written with a hyphen when used as a compound adjective before a noun, such as "mid-morning snack." However, when used as a noun on its own, it is often written without a hyphen, as in "We will meet in the mid morning." Always check style guides for specific preferences.

A hyphen in units typically indicates a range or connection between two values. For example, in "5-10 kg," it signifies a range from 5 kilograms to 10 kilograms. It can also be used to express a combined unit, such as "miles-per-hour," where it links the units to clarify their relationship.

A hyphen is typically used in the middle of a word to create compound words or to clarify meaning. For example, in compound adjectives like "well-known" or "high-quality," the hyphen connects the words to indicate they function together as a single descriptor. Additionally, hyphens can be used to break words at the end of a line to maintain text alignment, ensuring readability.

The term "tabletop" is typically written as a single word without a hyphen when used as an adjective or noun, such as in "tabletop game" or "the tabletop is made of wood." However, "table top" can be used as two separate words when referring specifically to the top surface of a table. The appropriate usage depends on the context.

The term "note taker" is generally not hyphenated when used as a noun. It is written as two separate words to refer to a person who takes notes. However, if used as a compound adjective before a noun, it could be hyphenated (e.g., "note-taker skills").

Yes, "light-blue" is correctly hyphenated when used as a compound adjective before a noun, such as in "a light-blue dress." The hyphen helps clarify that "light" modifies the color "blue" together, rather than suggesting a different interpretation. However, if used after the noun, it is typically written as two separate words: "The dress is light blue."

Yes, "thought-provoking" is hyphenated. The hyphen connects the words "thought" and "provoking," indicating that they work together as a single adjective to describe something that stimulates critical thinking or deep reflection. This hyphenation helps clarify the intended meaning when the phrase is used before a noun.

The colon hyphen parenthesis, often represented as ":)", is an emoticon used in digital communication to convey a smiling face. It typically expresses happiness, friendliness, or light-heartedness in a message. This simple combination of characters helps add an emotional tone to text, making it easier to convey feelings that might be lost in plain written communication.

The term "solvent-free" is hyphenated. The hyphen is used to connect the two words when they function together as a single adjective to describe something that does not contain solvents. For example, you would say "solvent-free paint" to indicate that the paint does not contain solvents.

Yes, "call-out" is hyphenated when used as a noun or an adjective, such as in "a call-out to the community" or "call-out culture." However, when used as a verb, it is written as two separate words, e.g., "to call out someone." Always consider the context to determine the correct usage.

The term "real world" is typically not hyphenated when used as a noun phrase, such as "living in the real world." However, when used as a compound adjective before a noun, it can be hyphenated, as in "real-world experience." Always consider the context to determine the appropriate usage.

No, "re-evaluated" should not be hyphenated. The prefix "re-" is commonly used without a hyphen when it precedes a verb that begins with a vowel or consonant, as in "reevaluate." The correct form is "reevaluated." However, if the prefix is followed by a word that could cause confusion or ambiguity, a hyphen may be used for clarity, but that is not the case here.

No, "hand crafted" is not typically hyphenated. It can be written as two separate words, "hand crafted," or as one word, "handcrafted." The choice often depends on the style guide being followed, but the unhyphenated forms are generally more common.

To underscore a capital letter, you can use the underscore character "_" before the letter. For example, if you want to underscore the letter "A," you would write it as "_A". If you need to underscore multiple capital letters in a word, you would place an underscore before each one, such as "_A_B_C".

The word "mismanagement" is typically not hyphenated, as it is a single, compound word. However, if you are breaking it at the end of a line for hyphenation, you would split it as "mis-manage-ment." Generally, hyphenation rules depend on the context, such as line breaks in justified text.

To prevent hyphenated words from being split at the end of a line, you can use a non-breaking hyphen or a non-breaking space. In word processing software, you can often find options to keep certain words together, such as "keep with next" or "keep lines together." Additionally, in HTML, using the   entity can help maintain the integrity of hyphenated words. This ensures that the entire word or phrase stays intact and doesn't get divided across lines.

The hyphen in numbers is used to connect words in compound numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine. For example, we write "twenty-one," "thirty-five," and "eighty-eight" to clearly indicate the combination of the tens and units. This helps maintain clarity and readability in written communication. Additionally, it adheres to standard grammar rules in English for forming compound adjectives and numbers.

No, "underestimated" is not hyphenated. It is a single, compound word formed by the prefix "under-" and the verb "estimated." In general, compound words like this one are written without a hyphen.

Yes, "highly specialised" is typically not hyphenated. The adverb "highly" modifies the adjective "specialised," and in English, adverb-adjective combinations do not require a hyphen. Therefore, it is correctly written as "highly specialised."

The word "carryout" is typically written as a single, unhyphenated word when used as a noun or adjective, referring to food that is ordered to be eaten off-premises. For example, "We ordered carryout for dinner." However, in some cases, it may be hyphenated as "carry-out," especially in informal contexts. Overall, the unhyphenated form is more commonly accepted in standard usage.

No, the word "deadbeat" is not hyphenated; it is written as a single word. It typically refers to someone who avoids work or responsibility, especially in the context of financial obligations.