Rules for Using Hyphens

Hyphens are used to join words to show they are a single entity.

Using Hyphens in Compound Adjectives

Hyphens are used to join the words in compound adjectives. A compound adjective
is a single adjective made up of more than one word.

For example (compound adjectives in bold):

 free-range eggs
 far-too-chatty individual,
 eight-seater taxi
In the UK, readers will expect you to use hyphens to link the words in your compound
adjectives, but, in the US, readers are more lenient. That said, regardless of which
convention you're using, if you're comfortable with spotting compound adjectives,
then you should group them with hyphens (or, occasionally, capital letters, italics, or
quotation marks). This will:

(1) Make it easier to read.

(2) Showcase your writing skills a little.
(3) Remove the possibility for ambiguity.

When the unhyphenated version of a compound adjective is ambiguous, you must

use a hyphen(s) to link its words. For example:
 a small business grant
(Is this a small grant for business purposes or a grant for a small business?)
 a small-business grant
(The hyphen makes it clear this is a grant for a small business. It could be a large
grant.)
 a heavy water reactor
(Is this a heavy reactor for use with water or a heavy-water reactor?) (Note:
"heavy water" is deuterium oxide.)
 a heavy-water reactor
(The hyphen makes it clear this is a deuterium-oxide reactor.)
 a fast evolving car
(Is this car fast or evolving fast?)
 a fast-evolving car
(The hyphen makes it clear the car is evolving quickly.)
Read more about hyphens in compound adjectives
Read more about alternatives to hyphens in compound adjectives

Using Hyphens in Compound Nouns

 A single noun made up of two or more words is called a compound noun(e.g., ice
axe, water-bottle, inkwell). The big question with a compound noun is whether to
leave it as two words (e.g., ice axe), to put a hyphen between the words (e.g.,
water-bottle), or to create a new word (e.g., inkwell). Unfortunately, there is no
simple rule for this. You have to know how to spell the word. Occasionally, more than
one version of the word is acceptable (e.g., paper clip, paper-clip,
and paperclip are all acceptable).

Be aware that your spellchecker will not test the two-word version or the
hyphenated version as a single entity. In other words, it will not highlight air
craft or air-craft as an error (even though it should be aircraft). So, you have to test
the one-word version. If your spellchecker doesn't like the one-word version, you
then have a choice between the two-word version and the hyphenated version.
Often, this really is your choice. You should use a hyphen for clarity (i.e., to make it
instantly obvious it's a single entity) and to eliminate ambiguity. For example:
 pen friend and pen-friend
(The hyphenated version makes it stand out as a single entity more clearly.)
 cooking oil and cooking-oil
(The hyphenated version not only makes it stand out as a single entity but also
makes it clear the oil is not cooking.)

 laughing gas and laughing-gas

(The hyphenated version makes it stand out as a single entity. It is also useful to
show the gas is not laughing. The chance of this misunderstanding occurring is
very low, but it's enough to warrant the hyphen. You're putting in the hyphen to
eliminate the tiniest shred of ambiguity. If we're being honest, it's an academic
exercise not a practical one.)

 water bottle and water-bottle

(The hyphenated version makes it clear the bottle is not made of water. Just like
in the example above, it's not a very likely misunderstanding. However, even
that level of ambiguity is enough to warrant the hyphen.)
Some compound nouns, especially those with a preposition and those made up of
more than two words, are best written with hyphens to show they are one entity. For
example:
 passer-by
 hanger-on
 sister-in-law
 forget-me-nots
 do-it-yourself
Read more about hyphens in compound nouns
Read more about forming the plurals of compound nouns

Using Hyphens in Prefixes

 Hyphens can be used in prefixes. A prefix is a short half-word placed before another
word to alter its meaning. For example (prefixes in bold):
 re-enact
 cooperate and co-operate
 antifascist and anti-fascist
The big question with a prefix is whether to use a hyphen with it or not. The guidelines
on when to use a hyphen with a prefix are here. Unfortunately, the guidelines are not
simple, but, often, the hyphenated and unhyphenated versions are both
acceptable.

As a general rule of thumb, try to avoid using a hyphen. However, if the

unhyphenated version looks too unwieldy for your taste (antiaircraft might be an
example), is highlighted as spelling mistake by your spellchecker (e.g., reestablish),
or is ambiguous (e.g., recover), then go for the hyphenated version.

The prefixes ex- and self- and prefixes with proper nouns (and words derived from
proper nouns) are always hyphenated. For example:
 ex-wife
 un-American
(American is derived from the proper noun America.)