hyphenating
Connecting with dashes
Hyphenating is joining words or word parts with a hyphen.
Compound modifiers before nouns often require hyphenating: a well-known author, a five-year-old child.
Hyphenating also breaks words across lines at syllable boundaries, though word processors have made this less common.
Some compound words gradually lose their hyphens as they become established: e-mail became email.
Combined into one
- joiningLinking into one
- linkingForming a connection
- connectingEstablishing a link
- prefixRoot-modifying front element
suffix · self-conscious · well-known · mother-in-law · double-barreled · two-part · combining · uniting
Outer covering material
- syllableUnit of pronunciation
- marginEdge of a page
- justificationReason proving rightness
- typographyArranging letters for display
typesetting · overflow · ragged · column · layout · splitting · continuation · InDesign
compound
Combined into one
- joiningLinking into one
- linkingForming a connection
- connectingEstablishing a link
prefix · suffix · self-conscious · well-known · mother-in-law · double-barreled · two-part · combining · uniting · bridging
wrapping
Outer covering material
- syllableUnit of pronunciation
- marginEdge of a page
- justificationReason proving rightness
typography · typesetting · overflow · ragged · column · layout · splitting · continuation · InDesign · breaking
surname
Hereditary family identifier
- double-barreledHaving two parallel tubes
- maidenUnmarried young woman
- marriedJoined in matrimony
identity · heritage · blending · combining · ancestry · cultural · ethnic · bicultural · children · genealogy
hyphenatingspacing
Interval arrangement between objects
merging · separating · splitting · fusing · compounding
hyphenatingseparating
Dividing into parts
dividing · disconnecting · splitting up · splitting · fragmenting