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6. Compounding Rules(See also Chapter 7 “Compounding Examples”)6.1.A compound word is a union of two or more words, either withor without a hyphen. It conveys a unit idea that is not as clearly orquickly conveyed by the component words in unconnected succession. The hyphen is a mark of punctuation that not only unites butalso separates the component words; it facilitates understanding,aids readability, and ensures correct pronunciation. When compound words must be divided at the end of a line, such divisionshould be made leaving prefixes and combining forms of more thanone syllable intact.6.2.In applying the rules in this chapter and in using the list of examples in the following chapter, “Compounding Examples,” thefluid nature of our language should be kept in mind. Word formsconstantly undergo modification. Although it is often the case thathyphenated compound words eventually lose their hyphen, manyof them start out unhyphenated.6.3.The rules, therefore, are somewhat flexible. Exceptions must necessarily be allowed. Current language trends continue to point toclosing up certain words which, through either frequent use orwidespread dissemination through modern media exposure, havebecome fixed in the reader’s mind as units of thought. The tendencyto merge two short words continues to be a natural progression toward better communication.General rules6.4.In general, omit the hyphen when words appear in regular orderand the omission causes no ambiguity in sense or sound.banking hoursblood pressurebook valuecensus takerday laborereye openerfellow citizenliving costspalm oilpatent right95real estaterock candytraining shipviolin teacher

966.5.Chapter 6Words are usually combined to express a literal or nonliteral (figurative) unit idea that would not be as clearly expressed in 6.6.right-of-waywhitewashA derivative of a compound retains the solid or hyphenated form ofthe original compound unless otherwise thinessrailroaderY-shapedA hyphen is used to avoid doubling a vowel or tripling a consonant,except after the short prefixes co, de, pre, pro, and re, which are generally printed solid. (See also rules 6.29 and sbutco-occupantcross sectionSolid compounds6.8.Print solid two nouns that form a third when the compound hasonly one primary accent, especially when the prefixed noun consistsof only one syllable or when one of the elements loses its t solid a noun consisting of a short verb and an adverb as its second element, except when the use of the solid form would interferewith inrun-insit-in

Compounding Rules6.10.Compounds beginning with the following nouns are usually lshopsnowwaywoodworkCompounds ending in the following are usually printed solid, especially when the prefixed word consists of one mistressmongeroverownerbut oachroomshopsiteskinsmithstonestoretailtighttime (not kworkerworkingwormworthywriter

986.12.Chapter 6Print solid any, every, no, and some when combined with body, thing,and where. When one is the second element, print as two words ifmeaning a single or particular person or thing. To avoid mispronunciation, print no one as two words at all hingeverywhereeveryonenobodynothingnowhereno onesomebodysomethingsomewheresomeonebut any one of us may stay; every one of the pilots is responsible; every body wasaccounted for6.13.Print compound personal pronouns as one esthemselvesthyselfyourselfyourselvesPrint as one word compass directions consisting of two points, butuse a hyphen after the first point when three points are uthwestalso north-south alignmentUnit modifiers6.15.Print a hyphen between words, or abbreviations and words, combined to form a unit modifier immediately preceding the wordmodified, except as indicated in rule 6.16 and elsewhere throughoutthis chapter. This applies particularly to combinations in which oneelement is a present or past participle.agreed-upon standardsBaltimore-Washington roadcollective-bargaining talkscontested-election casecontract-bar rulecost-of-living increasedrought-stricken areaEnglish-speaking nationfire-tested materialFederal-State-local cooperationGerman-English descentguided-missile programhearing-impaired classhigh-speed linelarge-scale projectlaw-abiding citizenlong-term loanline-item veto

Compounding Ruleslong-term-payment loanlow-cost housinglump-sum paymentmost-favored-nation clausemultiple-purpose usesno-par-value stockone-on-one situationpart-time personnelrust-resistant coveringservice-connected disabilitystate-of-the-art technologysupply-side economicstool-and-die makerup-or-down vote6.16.U.S.-owned property; U.S.-flagship1-inch diameter; 2-inch-diameterpipea 4-percent increase, the 10-percentrisebut4 percent citric acid4 percent interest. (Note the absenceof an article: a, an, or the. Theword of is understood here.)Where meaning is clear and readability is not aided, it is not necessary to use a hyphen to form a temporary or made compound.Restraint should be exercised in forming unnecessary combinations of words used in normal sequence.atomic energy powerbituminous coal industrychild welfare plancivil rights casecivil service examinationdurable goods industryflood control studyfree enterprise systemground water levelshigh school studentelementary school gradeincome tax forminterstate commerce lawland bank loanland use programlife insurance companymutual security funds6.17.99national defense appropriationnatural gas companyper capita expenditurePortland cement plantproduction credit loanpublic at largepublic utility plantreal estate taxsmall businessmanSocial Security pensionsoil conservation measuresspecial delivery mailparcel post deliveryspeech correction classbut no-hyphen rule (readabilityaided); not no hyphen rulePrint without a hyphen a compound predicate (either adjective ornoun) whose second element is a present participle.The duties were price fixing.The effects were far reaching.The shale was oil bearing.The area is used for beet raising.

1006.18.Chapter 6Print without a hyphen a compound predicate adjective the secondelement of which is a past participle. Omit the hyphen in a predicatemodifier of comparative or superlative degree.The area is drought stricken.The paper is fine grained.Moderately fine grained wood.6.19.Print without a hyphen a two-word modifier the first element ofwhich is a comparative or superlative.better drained soilbest liked bookshigher level decisionhighest priced apartmentlarger sized dressbetter paying joblower income group6.20.butuppercrust societylowercase, uppercase typeupperclassmanbestseller (noun)lighter-than-air crafthigher-than-market priceDo not use a hyphen in a two-word unit modifier the first elementof which is an adverb ending in ly, nor use hyphens in a three-wordunit modifier the first two elements of which are adverbs.eagerly awaited momentwholly owned subsidiaryunusually well preserved specimenvery well defined usagelonger than usual lunch periodnot too distant futuremost often heard phrase6.21.This material is fire tested.The cars are higher priced.The reporters are better informed.butever-normal granaryever-rising floodstill-new carstill-lingering doubtwell-known lawyerwell-kept secretProper nouns used as unit modifiers, either in their basic or derivedform, retain their original form; but the hyphen is printed whencombining forms.Latin American countriesNorth Carolina roadsa Mexican-AmericanSouth American tradeSpanish-American prideWinston-Salem festivalAfrican-American programAnglo-Saxon periodFranco-Prussian WarSeventh-day AdventistsbutMinneapolis-St. Paul regionNorth American-South AmericansphereFrench-English descentWashington–Wilkes-Barre routeor Washington/Wilkes-Barreroute

Compounding Rules6.22.101Do not confuse a modifier with the word it modifies.elderly clothesmanold-clothes mancompetent shoemakerwooden-shoe makerfield canning factorytomato-canning factorybrave servicemenservice men and womenlight blue hat (weight)light-blue hat (color)average taxpayerincome-tax payerAmerican flagship (military)American-flagship6.23.well-trained schoolteacherelementary school teacherpreschool children (kindergarten)pre-school children (before school)rezoned wastesitehazardous-waste sitebutcommon stockholderstock ownershipsmall businessmanworking men and womensteam powerplant sitemeat packinghouse ownerWhere two or more hyphenated compounds have a common basicelement but this element is omitted in all but the last term, the hyphens are retained.2- to 3- and 4- to 5-ton trucks2- by 4-inch boards, but boards 2 to 6 inches wide8-, 10-, and 16-foot boards6.4-, 3.1-, and 2-percent pay raisesmoss- and ivy-covered walls, not moss and ivy-covered wallslong- and short-term money rates, not long and short-term money ratesbut twofold or threefold, not two or threefoldgoat, sheep, and calf skins, not goat, sheep, and calfskinsintrastate and intracity, not intra-state and -cityAmerican owned and managed companiespreoperative and postoperative examination6.24.Do not use a hyphen in a unit modifier consisting of a foreignphrase.ante bellum daysbona fide transaction6.25.ex officio memberper capita taxper diem employeeprima facie evidenceDo not print a hyphen in a unit modifier containing a letter or anumeral as its second element.abstract B pagesarticle 3 provisionsclass II railroadgrade A milkpoint 4 programward D beds

1026.26.Chapter 6Do not use a hyphen in a unit modifier enclosed in quotation marksunless it is normally a hyphenated term, but quotation marks arenot to be used in lieu of a hyphen.“blue sky” law“good neighbor” policy“tie-in” sale6.27.Print combination color terms as separate words, but use a hyphenwhen such color terms are unit modifiers.bluish greendark greenorange red6.28.butright-to-work lawline-item vetobluish-green feathersiron-gray sinksilver-gray bodyDo not use a hyphen between independent adjectives preceding anoun.big gray cata fine old southern gentlemanPrefixes, suffixes, and combining forms6.29.Print solid combining forms and prefixes, except as ecessaryunderflow

Compounding Rules6.30.103Print solid combining forms and suffixes, except as indicatedelsewhere.6.31.Print solid words ending in like, but use a hyphen to avoid tripling aconsonant or when the first element is a proper r (cover again)re-creation (create again)re-lay (lay again)re-sorting (sort again)re-treat (treat edUse a hyphen to join duplicated Use a hyphen or hyphens to prevent mispronunciation, to ensurea definite accent on each element of the compound, or to avoidambiguity.anti-hog-cholera serumco-occurrenceco-opmid-decademulti-ply (several plies)non-civil-service positionnon-tumor-bearing tissuepre-midcourse reviewpre-position kilogramsub-subcommitteesuper-superlativePrint with a hyphen the prefixes ex, self, and odselfsame

1046.35.Chapter 6Unless usage demands otherwise, use a hyphen to join a prefix orcombining form to a capitalized word. (The hyphen is retained inwords of this class set in nmentneo-Nazipost-World War IIor post-Second World atlanticNumerical compounds6.36.Print a hyphen between the elements of compound numbers fromtwenty-one to ninety-nine and in adjective compounds with a numerical first ch man24-inch ruler3-week vacation8-hour day10-minute delay20th-century progress3-to-1 ratio5-to-4 vote.22-caliber cartridge2-cent-per-pound taxfour-in-hand tie6.37.three-and-twentytwo-sided questionmultimillion-dollar fund10-dollar-per-car taxthirty- (30-) day periodbutone hundred twenty-one100-oddfoursomethreescorefoursquare 20 million airfieldsecond grade childrenPrint without a hyphen a modifier consisting of a possessive nounpreceded by a numeral. (See also rule 8.14.)1 month’s layoff1 week’s pay2 hours’ work3 weeks’ vacation1 minute’s delaybut a 1-minute delay