Hyphens

1. Use hyphens when breaking words at the end of a line. Break words only between syllables (use your dictionary).

   A week from Thursday, I plan on attending the banquet honoring graduates from my department.

2. Use a hyphen when words are joined together to form compounds such as these:
   1. numbers;
      • twenty-nine
      • ninety-seven
      
      
   2. written fractions;
      • The box was two-thirds full.
      
      
   3. family relationships;
      • mother-in-law
      • great-grandmother
      
      
   4. words with affixes (not all affixes require hyphens, so if in doubt, check your dictionary);
      • self-discovery
      • all-star
      • quasi-professional
      • ex-husband
      • pre-Christian
      • president-elect
      
      
   5. terms denoting two different functions or capacities;
      • tractor-trailer
      • secretary-treasurer
      
      
   6. adjectives and coined adjectives;
      • heart-to-heart talk
      • off-the-record comments
      • eight-year-old boy
      • blue-green color
      • She gave him the you-ought-to-know-better look.
      
      
   7. compounds resembling other words.
      • re-creation
      • re-cover