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A few rules and some examples I found on Englishplus.com/grammar:
Hyphenated Compound Words
Hyphens are used internally in some compound words to separate the words forming the compound word.
Examples: merry-go-round editor-in-chief
When unsure of the hyphenation of such words, check a dictionary. Usage may vary. As some words are more widely used, the hyphen in dropped. For example, in the early 1800's the word blackbird was usually spelled black-bird. Now the hyphen has been dropped.
Hyphens connect the words of a compound modifier that comes before the word being modified. Hyphens are not used this way with compound parts ending in -ly or made up of proper nouns or proper adjectives.
Incorrect: He is a well respected man.
Correct: He is a well-respected man.
(A compound modifier before the noun.)
Incorrect: That man is well-respected.
Correct: That man is well respected.
(The modifier follows the noun, no hyphen.)
Incorrect: That was a badly-punctuated sentence.
Correct: That was a badly punctuated sentence.
(Modifier ends in -ly, no hyphen.)
Incorrect: The South-American rain forest is home to hundreds of species of hummingbirds.
Correct: The South American rain forest is home to hundreds of species of hummingbirds.
(Modifier is proper, no hyphen.)
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted - modestgoddess 04/13/02 03:54 AM Re: - nancyk 04/13/02 05:11 PM Re: - wwh 04/13/02 05:54 PM Re: - slithy toves 04/13/02 07:21 PM Re: - hyphen wow 04/13/02 09:00 PM Re: - hyphen nancyk 04/14/02 12:51 AM Re: - hyphen modestgoddess 04/15/02 02:27 AM Re: - stales 04/15/02 02:33 PM Re: - Faldage 04/15/02 05:06 PM Re: - Capital Kiwi 04/15/02 08:42 PM Re: baseball AnnaStrophic 04/15/02 08:49 PM Re: baseball belMarduk 04/15/02 11:05 PM Re: baseball milum 04/16/02 08:52 PM Re: baseball Wordwind 04/17/02 08:49 AM Re: baseball Faldage 04/17/02 01:25 PM Re: baseball Bingley 04/23/02 08:49 AM Re: - johnjohn 04/17/02 08:38 AM Re: - johnjohn 04/17/02 08:46 AM Re: - Faldage 04/17/02 01:30 PM Re: - johnjohn 04/18/02 01:14 AM Re: - maverick 04/18/02 02:41 AM Re: - Capital Kiwi 04/18/02 03:29 AM Re: - Faldage 04/18/02 04:24 PM
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