W R I T I N G T E C H N I Q U E S
Handling Hyphens Name ______________________
When you join two or more words to form a single modifier preceding a noun, add a temporary hyphen: a two-year-old child . If the same words appear after the noun, a hyphen is usually not necessary: the child was two years old . However, some compound modifiers are permanently hyphenated, such as first-class, well-known, part-time, and old-fashioned . Check a dictionary to be sure.
Hyphen Rules to Remember

Do hyphenate a compound modifier before a noun. ( She ran a home-based business.)

Do hyphenate permanent compounds before or after a noun ( The office was old-fashioned.)

Do not hyphenate combinations including adverbs that end in ly ( Our newly decorated offices look great.)

Do not add hyphens involving prefixes such as non, pre, over, and super (nonabrasive, nonbearing, preseason, overpaid, and supersmart ).
Add or delete hyphens as appropriate in the following sentences. Mark "C" if a sentence is correct.
1. Managers must revise the company's five year business plan.
2. The commission will consider every taxpayer inquiry on a case by case basis.
3. We sought up to date information from the consultant who was well known for his expertise.
4. Only a highly regarded architect will be considered for the proposed building.
5. The contract included a number of non-binding but important suggestions.
6. All employees participate in on the job training after being hired.
7. The doctor's receptionist made a follow up appointment for next month.
8. It is the receptionist's job to follow up after a doctor performs some procedures.
9. Even the most commonly used ingredients were unavailable after the storm.
10. Although I worked only part time, I was given two weeks of vacation time.
11. Bruce used his two week vacation to travel to Alaska.
12. Attorneys provided many documents in the pre-trial period of the case.
13. We were afraid the manager would give another long winded speech.
14. If you follow the step by step instructions, you will have no trouble assembling the bicycle.
15. Most speakers provide a question and answer period after they finish.
© Dr. Mary Ellen Guffey – May be duplicated for educational purposes only.
ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION: PROCESS AND PRODUCT
BUSINESS ENGLISH

Key
1. five-year [Hyphenate this compound adjective that modifies the combined idea of business plan .]
2. case-by-case [Hyphenate this compound adjective that modifies and precedes basis .]
3. up-to-date, well-known [Both up-to-date and well-known are permanently hyphenated regardless of where they appear.]
4. C [ Highly regarded is not hyphenated because highly is an adverb modifying regarded . This expression is not a compound adjective.]
5. nonbinding [ Nonbinding
6. on-the-job [Hyphenate this compound adjective because it describes training.
]
7. follow-up [Hyphenate follow-up because it forms a compound adjective describing appointment.
8. C [Do not hyphenate follow up in this sentence because it does not function as a compound adjective preceding a noun.]
9. C [Do not hyphenate commonly used because commonly is an adverb describing used.
]
10. part-time [ Part-time is permanently hyphenated regardless of its position or use.]
11. two-week [Hyphenate two-week because it forms a compound adjective describing vacation .]
12. pretrial [Do not separate prefixes from their roots. No hyphen appears in pretrial .]
13. long-winded [Do hyphenate this compound adjective describing speech .]
14. step-by-step [Hyphenate this compound adjective that precedes and describes instructions.
]
15. question-and-answer [Hyphenate this compound adjective because it precedes and describes period .]
© Dr. Mary Ellen Guffey – May be duplicated for educational purposes only.
ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION: PROCESS AND PRODUCT
BUSINESS ENGLISH