COMPOUND WORDS (See also Guide to Compounding) A compound word is a union of two or more words, either with or without a hyphen. In the development of the English language many separate words have been united into compounds because of their close and repeated association, but the process, mainly for want of guiding principles, has been both haphazard and erratic. Consequently current usage abounds in inconsistencies, and authorities do not agree. A compound word conveys a unit idea that is not conveyed by the component words in unconnected succession. The hyphen in a compound is a mark of punctuation that not only unites but separates the component words and thus facilitates understanding, aids readability, and insures a correct pronunciation. General rule. 43. Two or more words are compounded either to express a unit idea (literal or nonliteral) or to avoid ambiguity. (a) To avoid doubling a vowel (except after the short prefixes co, de, pre, pro, re) or tripling a consonant. thimble-eye brass-smith shell-like (b) To prevent mispronunciation, especially to insure a definite accent on each element of the compound. mid-ice head-on air-dry (v.) (c) To join a single capital letter to a noun or a participle. know-it-all (n.) (d) To join the elements of an improvised compound (e) In compounds formed of duplicating or conflicting terms and in compounds naming the same person or thing under two aspects. devil-devil pitter-patter dead-alive 45. A hyphen is used in a compound noun containing an adverb as its second element; also in a compound noun consisting of three or more words. 46. A hyphen is used in compound numbers, in compound (double) titles, in compound units of measurement, in complex terms of compass direction, and in other complex compounds. 47. A hyphen and an apostrophe are used in a compound containing a possessive noun as one of its elements. 48. A compound adjective in which the second element is a past participle or a coined adjective in the form of a past participle is hyphened unless derived from a solid compound or unless the first element is an adverb ending in ly. 49. An expression in which the last element is a present participle is printed as separate words unless it is used as a unit modifier or is derived from a solid compound. The shale was oil bearing. One of their duties was price fixing. He was engaged in painting and paperhanging. 50. A derivative of a compound retains the form of the original compound. praiseworthiness cold-bloodedness 51. Color terms are not hyphened unless used as unit modifiers. blue green chocolate brown bluish green 52. Words combined to form a unit modifier immediately preceding the word or words modified are hyphened unless the first word is an adverb ending in ly or unless the first word in a three-word modifier is an adverb and modifies the second. (a) The hyphen is not used in a unit modifier (except where modifier is normally a hyphened term) which is enclosed in quotation marks. "blue sky" law "brain trust" activity "mark-off" galley (b) A unit modifier following and reading back to the word or words modified takes a hyphen and is always printed in the singular. motors, alternating-current, 3-phase, 60-cycle, 115-volt glass jars: 5-gallon, 2-gallon, 1-quart (c) Proper names used as unit modifiers retain their noun form. (d) A modifier should not be confused with the word it modifies. competent shoemaker field canning factories 53. Where two or more hyphened compounds have a common basic element and this element is omitted in all but the last, the hyphens are retained. 2- or 3-em quads (not 2 or 3-em quads) 2- by 4-inch boards; but 2 to 6 inches wide 8-, 10-, and 16-foot boards long- and short-term money rates (not long and short-term money rates) but twofold or threefold (not two or threefold) goat, sheep, and calf skins (not goat, sheep, and calfskins) 54. The compounding and hyphening of scientific terms are governed by scientific usage. (In general, copy is considered authoritative.) 55. Civil and military (single) titles are not hyphened. 56. A fraction is hyphened, but the but under-secretaryship vice-presidency president-general-elect hyphen is omitted between the numerator and the denominator when the hyphen appears in either. 58. Combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes do not require hyphens except as indicated in paragraphs (a) and (b), following. (a) The prefixes ex (former) and self (reflexive) and the adjective elect require a hyphen. |