Grammar Post

USING HYPHENS:

I think using hyphens in the correct place can be difficult. I struggle with this because I never seem to know when it needs to be used.

RULES ON HOW TO USE HYPHENS

1. Use a hyphen to join two or more words serving as a single adjective before a noun:
a one-way streetchocolate-covered peanutswell-known author
However, when compound modifiers come after a noun, they are not hyphenated:
The peanuts were chocolate covered.The author was well known.
2. Use a hyphen with compound numbers:
forty-sixsixty-threeOur much-loved teacher was sixty-three years old.
3. Use a hyphen to avoid confusion or an awkward combination of letters:
re-sign a petition (vs. resign from a job)semi-independent (but semiconscious)shell-like (but childlike)
4. Use a hyphen with the prefixes ex- (meaning former), self-, all-; with the suffix -elect; between a prefix and a capitalized word; and with figures or letters:
ex-husbandself-assuredmid-Septemberall-inclusivemayor-electanti-AmericanT-shirtpre-Civil Warmid-1980s
5. Use a hyphen to divide words at the end of a line if necessary, and make the break only between syllables:
pref-er-encesell-ingin-di-vid-u-al-ist

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_hyphen.html