Hyphen and Apostrophe

By: Janice S. Almeana

Key Concept
Use

a hyphen after a prefix that is followed by a proper noun or a proper adjective Example: pre- Renaissance Mid February Un American Prefix that may be used before proper nouns or proper adjectives are ante-, anti-, mid-, post-, pre-, pro-, and un-

Key Concept
Use

a hyphen in words with the prefixes all-,ex-, self-, and word with the suffix elect. Examples: all powerful Ex jockey Self made Mayor elect

Key concept
use a hyphen to connect two or more words

that are used as one word unless the dictionary give a contrary spelling. Although some compound words are written as one word and others are written as two words, many compound words are joined with hyphens. Example:
Sister-in-law Tractor-trailer Six-year-old

Key Concept
Use

a hyphen to connect a compound modifier that comes before a noun unless it includes a word ending in ly or is a compound proper adjective or compound proper noun acting as an adjective

Example with hyphen:

-a well-made pair of jeans -The bright-eyed children -An up-to-date decision

Example without hyphen: -Widely distributed information -East European language -Red River valley

Key concept
Do

not divide a word so that a single letter or the letter ed stand alone. Incorrect: a- bout Correct: about scream-ed screamed toant-y toanty

Key concept
avoid

dividing proper nouns and proper adjectives Incorrect: Fe-licia Correct: Felicia Amer-ican American

Key concept
dividing

a hyphenated word only after the hyphen. Incorrect: we are going with my sister and my bro-ther-in-law Correct: we are going with my sister and my brother-in-law

Using Apostrophes
Apostrophes are used to form possessives, contraction, and a few specials plurals Forming Possessives: the following rules tell you how to show possession with various types of nouns.

Key Concept

add an apostrophe and as s to show the possessive case of the most singular nouns.
Examples: The wallet of the woman The womans wallet

The collar of two dog The dogs collar

The lines of the actress The actresss line

 For

classical reference ending in s only an apostrophe is used. Example: Confucius teaching Tacitus history

The possessive case of plural nouns follows two rules:

Key concept
add

an apostrophe to show the possessive case of plural noun ending in s or es. Examples: The barking of the dogs The dogs barking The color of the leaves The leaves color

Key concept
add

an apostrophe and an s to show the possessive case of plural nouns that do not end in s or es. Example: The books of the woman The womans book The grazing lands of oxen The oxen grazing land.

Key concept
add

an apostrophe and an s ( or just an apostrophe if the word is a plural ending in s) to the last word of a compound noun to form possessive.

Name of businesses And organization:

-The Salvation Armys headquarters -The Department of the Interior Budget -The Johnson Associates Clients

Tittles of Rulers And leaders:

-Catherine the Greats victories -Louis XVI s palace -my sister-in-law car -the secretary- treasurers idea -the nurse-practitioners patient

Hyphenated Compound Noun used to Describe people:

Key concept
to

form possessive involving time, amount, or the sake, user n apostrophe and an s or just an apostrophe if the possessive in plural

 Time:

-a months vacation -three days vacation -a half-hours time -one quarters worth -two cents worth

Amount:

Sake

-for Marjories sake -for goodness sake

Apostrophes Indicating Missing Letters

Verb and Not Pronoun and Will

Cannot Could He will You will She will She would He would You would You are She is They are

cant couldnt hell youll shell shed hed youd youre shes theyre

Are not Will not I will We will They will

arent wont Ill well theyll

Pronoun and would Pronoun or Noun and the Verb be:

I would Id We would wed They would theyd I am Jane is Im Janes