Hey everybody,
I have a question about compounds...
I think I illustrate it to you best with an example:
in "an off-campus apartment"
off-campus is written with a hyphen
BUT in "The apartment is off campus" we wirte it without an campus.
why is it that way?
I read that in 99% of all cases we use the hyphen when the adjectiv compound is before the noun. Is there a rule how to handle it when the compound is behind the noun?
I hope someone can help me :)
Marie
If the phrase comes after the noun, it is not hyphenated.
Check a dictionary to be sure.
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/hyphens.asp
I saw this page, too but wasn't sure wether it is a always the case that it isen't hypaneted.
Dict.leocsaid that there are some cases where it is written with hyphen... Tbe explanation said something like if it is commen to write the word with hyphencit is writtencwoth one after the noun, too. But I wasn't sure about this explanation... can you say something about that?
Yes. If in doubt, look it up in the dictionary. It should tell you whether a word is always hyphenated or not.
One example is T-bone steak. It's always hyphenated.
can you built a sentence where t-none stands after the noun?
I can't think of any.
can you think of any other compound behind a noun that is written with a hyphen?
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/compounds.htm
On this webpage, scroll down to the sections called
Compounds with Prefixes
and
Spelling.
Let us know if you have questions.
I still can`t think of a adjective compound that stands behind the noun... Is it possible that somethink like this exisct? because adjectives give nearer information to nouns and therefor they stand before them, or?
Hi Marie,
Great question! The use of hyphens in compound words can be a bit confusing, but there are some general rules that can help clarify when to use them.
When using compound adjectives before a noun, they are typically hyphenated. For example, in the phrase "an off-campus apartment," "off-campus" is acting as a compound adjective describing the noun "apartment." Because it comes before the noun, it is hyphenated to connect the words and indicate that they work together as a single descriptor.
However, when the compound adjective comes after the noun, it is usually not hyphenated. For example, in the phrase "The apartment is off campus," "off campus" is still describing the noun "apartment," but it comes after the noun. In this case, it is not necessary to use a hyphen because the words are not being used as a single compound adjective modifying the noun.
Now, regarding the 99% guideline you read about using a hyphen when the compound adjective is before the noun, it is a good rule of thumb but not an absolute rule. There are some exceptions and variations in specific cases, depending on style guides or personal preferences. Some compound adjectives before a noun are commonly seen without hyphens, especially if they are well-established phrases like "high school," "real estate," or "fast food." In these cases, the words are seen as commonly understood combinations, so hyphens are not typically used.
So, to summarize, when using compound adjectives before a noun, it is generally recommended to hyphenate them. However, when the compound adjective comes after the noun, it is usually not hyphenated. Keep in mind that there may be exceptions to these guidelines, so it's always a good idea to consult a style guide or follow any specific instructions you have been given.
I hope this explanation helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.