My great-grandchildren are great grandchildren OR Compounding the hyphen problem
Is the writer well known or is she a well-known writer?
Both. Which explains why compound and hyphenated words can cause a headache when your head aches.
The information here comes from Sleeping Dogs Don’t Lay by Richards Lederer and Dowis. In addition, this link from Writing for Business and Pleasure by Stephen Wilbers is one you may want to bookmark for quick reference.
Naturally, the rules are snarly, and it doesn’t help that three different dictionaries may provide three different answers. When in doubt, consult The Chicago Manual of Style (the online version has a free 30-day trial).
COMPOUND NOUNS
If the second element is an adverb, then hyphenate the construction:
drive-in go-between
COMPOUND VERBS
GENERALLY (which means an exception is lurking somewhere!) the rule is:
Adverb + Verb = solid compound
overdo
Verb + Adverb = open compound
do over
COMPOUND ADJECTIVES
When used BEFORE the noun, usually hyphenated.
one-horse town blue-black bruise
narrow-minded scientist well-intentioned plan
HOWEVER (you were waiting for this, right?) if the compounds before the nouns are created using “-ly” adverbs, NO HYPHEN is used.
newly employed cashiers lavishly designed office
Adverb + Adjectives = solid compound :
up+tight=uptight forth+coming=forthcoming
COMPOUND PRONOUNS, PREPOSITIONS, ADVERBS
These are always solid: herself, throughout, moreover, nevertheless
SOMETIMES CONTEXT DETERMINES STYLING:
I write every day because writing is an everyday event.
Backdoor schemes don’t always slither through back doors.
HYPHENS: GENERAL RULES
1.Use hyphens when connecting the following prefixes to a word: ex, pre, mid, anti, all, self
2.Use hyphens between compound numbers
3. Use hyphens when a number + a noun is used as an adjective:
12-hour day, 19th-century poem
4.Use hyphens to join one capital letter to a noun or participle
H-bomb, V-neck, T-shaped
And, if I’ve compounded your headache, consult the nearest dictionary!
