When to use hyphens in compound words
I've been puzzled a lot on when to use a hyphen in compounds words such as cross-section, time-of-flight, state-of-the-art etc. I am writing scientific documents and I haven't found a definite rule on the use of a hyphen.
However, I came across a general rule according to which such words have to be hyphenated when they come before a noun, otherwise the hyphen is not necessary (or perhaps it's even wrong?). A few examples follow
Example 1
Cross-section measurements of nuclear reactions.
vs
Measuring nuclear reaction cross sections.
Example 2
The time-of-flight technique
vs
The particle has a small time-of-flight.
words have to be hyphenated when they come before a noun
Is there a rule that can be applied in such case or the use of a hyphen is interchangeable?
open-vs-closed-vs-hyphenated
asked 3 mins ago
ThanosThanos
1084
add a comment |
I've been puzzled a lot on when to use a hyphen in compounds words such as cross-section, time-of-flight, state-of-the-art etc. I am writing scientific documents and I haven't found a definite rule on the use of a hyphen.
However, I came across a general rule according to which such words have to be hyphenated when they come before a noun, otherwise the hyphen is not necessary (or perhaps it's even wrong?). A few examples follow
Example 1
Cross-section measurements of nuclear reactions.
vs
Measuring nuclear reaction cross sections.
Example 2
The time-of-flight technique
vs
The particle has a small time-of-flight.
words have to be hyphenated when they come before a noun
Is there a rule that can be applied in such case or the use of a hyphen is interchangeable?
open-vs-closed-vs-hyphenated
asked 3 mins ago
ThanosThanos
1084
add a comment |
I've been puzzled a lot on when to use a hyphen in compounds words such as cross-section, time-of-flight, state-of-the-art etc. I am writing scientific documents and I haven't found a definite rule on the use of a hyphen.
However, I came across a general rule according to which such words have to be hyphenated when they come before a noun, otherwise the hyphen is not necessary (or perhaps it's even wrong?). A few examples follow
Example 1
Cross-section measurements of nuclear reactions.
vs
Measuring nuclear reaction cross sections.
Example 2
The time-of-flight technique
vs
The particle has a small time-of-flight.
words have to be hyphenated when they come before a noun
Is there a rule that can be applied in such case or the use of a hyphen is interchangeable?
open-vs-closed-vs-hyphenated
asked 3 mins ago
ThanosThanos
1084
I've been puzzled a lot on when to use a hyphen in compounds words such as cross-section, time-of-flight, state-of-the-art etc. I am writing scientific documents and I haven't found a definite rule on the use of a hyphen.
However, I came across a general rule according to which such words have to be hyphenated when they come before a noun, otherwise the hyphen is not necessary (or perhaps it's even wrong?). A few examples follow
Example 1
Cross-section measurements of nuclear reactions.
vs
Measuring nuclear reaction cross sections.
Example 2
The time-of-flight technique
vs
The particle has a small time-of-flight.
words have to be hyphenated when they come before a noun
Is there a rule that can be applied in such case or the use of a hyphen is interchangeable?
open-vs-closed-vs-hyphenated
open-vs-closed-vs-hyphenated
asked 3 mins ago
ThanosThanos
1084
asked 3 mins ago
ThanosThanos
1084
asked 3 mins ago
ThanosThanos
1084
asked 3 mins ago
ThanosThanos
1084
asked 3 mins ago
ThanosThanos
1084
1084
add a comment |
add a comment |
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