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Prefix Words - Exceptions to the Rule

Important ExceptionsThere are some exceptions to the basic rule that prefix words do not include the hyphen: Root word is capitalized. Root word is a date. Hyphenate to avoid ambiguity. Root consists of two words. Root and prefix share identical lett...

Hyphens and Compound Words

IntroductionIn chapter 3 of the eBook Understanding the Parts of Speech, you’ll learn about compound adjectives, those multiword, often made-up adjectives that enliven our writing. Compound adjectives are also called “phrasal adjectives.”We als...

Hyphens and Compound Nouns

Most Not HyphenatedMost compound nouns are not hyphenated: master builder fellow employee attorney general Complete WordsOthers have migrated and become complete words, spelled as one word, with no hyphen: headache checkbook boardinghouse clearinghou...

Hyphens and Compound Adjectives

Introduction to the Complicated Topic of Hyphenating Phrasal AdjectivesSome general observations should help you understand the principles behind the rule on hyphenating compound adjectives and therefore increase the likelihood of correct hyphenation...

Compound Adjectives - Decision to Hyphenate

Facilitate ReadingWe hyphenate words to facilitate reading and prevent ambiguity. For example, one rule says to hyphenate adjectives formed by a noun plus an -ing verb when it comes before the noun. Thus: thought-provoking article interest-bearing lo...

Made-Up Adjectives

Pay special attention to those compound adjectives you make up. Most people incorrectly leave out the hyphens: product-liability lawsuit employment-discrimination claim sexual-harassment suit child-support payments  Previous: Compound Adjectives...

Compound Adjectives and -ly Adverbs

Never HyphenatedAlso pay special attention to compounds formed with an adverb ending in ‑ly followed by a past participle, present participle, or other adjective. These compounds are never hyphenated: widely used procedure (-ly adverb + past partic...

Compound Adjectives - A Long List

Here, for your reference, is a long list of the most frequently encountered types of compound adjectives and the rules on hyphenation. When in doubt, always check the dictionary. Compound Adjective Formed With Rule on Hyphenation Example all Alw...

Combining Various Parts of Speech

You will also form compound adjectives by combining various parts of speech. Here's the way hyphenation works: Combining   Parts of Speech Rule on   Hyphenation Example adjective + noun with -ed suffix Hyphenate before noun, open after noun. s...

Chapter 11 - Apostrophe

The apostrophe is used to show (1) possessives of nouns and some pronouns, (2) contractions, and (3) some plurals.Possessives of Singular Nouns Use an "apostrophe ‑s" to form the possessive of a singular noun, even if that singular noun ends in a...

Apostrophes Form Contractions

Use the apostrophe to form contractions. Though contractions rarely show up in formal writing, a well-placed one now and then can have a positive effect. I use them all the time (you've probably noticed): can't won't don't  Previous: Chapter 11 ...

Apostrophes Form a Narrow Class of Plurals

Use "apostrophe ‑s" to form plurals only when absolutely necessary. Use just an ‑s (or ‑es) to form the plurals of dates, acronyms, and families: She longed for the 1960s. The investors contributed to their IRAs. The Elmores came for dinner. Bu...

Chapter 12 - Quotation Marks

IntroductionBefore we get to the use of quotation marks to show direct quotation, let's look briefly at some special uses of the mark.Irony or Sarcasm In speech, you'll often see people use their hands to show that they're putting the word in quotati...

Rules on Direct Quotation

Many writers violate rules governing the use of quotation marks. They mix up the rules on which of the other punctuation marks go inside or outside the ending quotation marks. You'll find independent treatment of this issue in each chapter on each ma...

Period Goes Inside Quotation Marks

The period goes inside the closing quotations marks. Ed said, "Here is a sentence with the period properly placed inside the ending quotation marks." (Period goes inside.)  Previous: Rules on Direct QuotationNext: Comma Goes Inside...

Comma Goes Inside

The comma goes inside the closing quotations marks. According to the editor, writers make mistakes in "quoting from research sources," "using too many quotations," and "putting punctuation marks in the wrong places." (Commas go inside; period goes in...

Semicolon Goes Outside

The semicolon should be placed outside quotation marks. When the quoted matter ends with a semicolon, the semicolon is dropped. According to the editor, writers do make mistakes when "quoting from research sources"; they also use "too many quotations...

Colon Goes Outside

The colon should be placed outside quotation marks. When the quoted matter ends with a colon, the colon is dropped. The employee has two objections to the practice of "early retirement": He wants to continue working, and the policy manual does not re...

Question Mark Goes Inside

Sometimes the question mark goes inside the closing quotations marks. The committee asked, rather rhetorically, "Does this rule actually apply?" (Question mark that's part of the quotation goes inside. No additional punctuation is necessary to end t...

Question Mark Goes Outside

Sometimes the question mark goes outside the closing quotations marks. Did the board really say, "We will consider the rules on charitable contributions"? (Question mark showing the writer's question goes outside.)  Previous: Question Mark Goes ...

Exclamation Point Goes Inside

Sometimes the exclamation point goes inside the closing quotations marks. The man cried out: "Fire! There's a fire! Call 911!" (Exclamation point that's part of the quotation goes inside. Notice that no additional punctuation is necessary to end the ...

Exclamation Point Goes Outside

Sometimes the exclamation point goes outside the closing quotations marks. When 911 took the call, the operator said, "I'm on a break now"! (Exclamation point showing the writer's exclamation goes outside the ending quotation marks. No additional pun...

Conclusion to the Section on Punctuation

We hope you have enjoyed, and profited from, this discussion on the rules of punctuation. If you have, we hope you’ll tell your friends about Grammar.com.We hope you’ll use our eBooks and Grammar.com to improve your writing, check your grammar, c...

Glossary of Grammatical Terms

Here’s the Glossary of Grammatical Terms. Click any word for a complete definition along with examples. acronym, initialism action verb active voice adjective adjectival clause adjectival phrase adverb adverbial clause adverbial phrase antec...

acronym, initialism

An acronym is a pronounceable name made up of a series of initial letters or parts of words; for example, UNESCO for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.An initialism, on the other hand, is simply a set of initials r...