Rules of compound words

Rules for compound words | Merriam-Webster

How do you decide whether a compound should be written as one word, separate words, or hyphenated words?

Compounds

A compound is a word or word group that consists of two or more parts that work together as a unit to express a specific concept. Compounds can be formed by combining two or more words (as in double–check, cost–effective, farmhouse, graphic equalizers, park bench, around–the–clock, or son of a gun), by combining prefixes or suffixes with words (as in ex–president, shoeless, presorted, or uninterruptedly), or by combining two or more word elements (as in macrophage or photochromism). Compounds are written in one of three ways: solid (as in cottonmouth), hyphenated (screenwriter–director), or open (health care). Because of the variety of standard practice, the choice among the styles for a given compound represents one of the most common and vexing of all style issues writers encounter.

Compounds in the Dictionary

A good dictionary will list many permanent compounds, compounds so commonly used that they have become permanent parts of the language. However, a dictionary generally will not list temporary compounds, those created to meet a writer's need at a particular moment. Most compounds whose meanings are self–evident from the meanings of their component words also will not be listed in the dictionary, even if they are permanent and widely used.

The Compound–styling Conundrum

When compounds begin to be used widely, there may be significant variation in how writers style them, and it can take years to achieve a high degree of consistency in their format. For many terms, it is often completely acceptable to choose freely among open, hyphenated, and closed alternatives, even though the term has been used in English for an extended period (for instance, lifestyle, life–style, or life style). Although the styling that ultimately takes hold for a compound may be determined by nothing more than editorial preference, there is one pattern that often holds true as new compounds become entrenched in English. Compound nouns are usually written as one word, compound verbs are generally written as two, and compound adjectives are very often written with a hyphen.

Styling Internet– and Computer–Related Terms (e.g., on–line, website, e–mail)

Internet–related compounds are still so new that their preferred styling remains in flux, with the same compound styled different ways in different publications. Over time, they will likely become more consistent, but what should writers do now? The following list provides the Internet–term stylings that are currently most widely used in professionally edited, published writing.

• E–mail (with a capital E when used as a noun)
• e–mail (with a lowercase e when used as a verb)
• online
• Web site
• Web page
• e–book
• e–tail
• webcam
• webcast/webcaster
• webmaster (often cap)
• dot–com

Text for this article was adapted from Merriam-Webster's Manual for Writers and Editors.

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Compound Words: Everything You Need to Know

The words pancake, living room, and merry-go-round have something in common.

They are all examples of compound words.

The noun compound means something made up of two or more separate components. Compound can also be an adjective meaning consisting of two or more parts or components.

A compound word is one word, or one unit of meaning, that is created by joining two or more separate words together.

What Are Compound Words?

A compound word is a word made up of usually two but sometimes more words that are joined together. The two (or more) that make the compound word are independent words; they have their own distinct meanings. When those words are joined and form a compound word, that compound word has its own new meaning.

The Three Types of Compound Words

Compound words can take three possible forms: closed, open, or hyphenated. In closed form, there is no space between the joined words. In open form, there is a space between the “joined” words that still act as one unit, and in hyphenated form—you guessed it! There is a hyphen between the joined words.

These general “rules”—which are somewhat fluid and flexible—provide guidance as to what format a compound word takes.

• Closed compound words are usually nouns: They put on makeup.

• Open compound words are usually nouns or verbs: I have to make up (verb) that exam at my high school. (noun)

• Hyphenated compound words are usually adjectives or adverb-adjective combinations: I have to take a make-up (adjective) exam. I will be well-prepared. (adverb + adjective)

The key word in each of those examples is “usually.” Some compound words break the rules. We'll see how soon.

1. Closed Compound Words

To review: closed compound words are usually made up of two separate words that are put together to form a new word. There is no space between the two words in a closed-form compound word; the compound appears as one single word.

Examples of Closed Compound Words

• Cup + cake becomes cupcake

• Basket + ball becomes basketball

• Key + board becomes keyboard

• Extra + ordinary becomes extraordinary

• Birth + day becomes birthday

You can see through these examples that the meaning of the compound word is not just a merger of the independent definitions of the individual words that join together to make that compound.

However, there is a relationship between the individual word meanings and the compounds. Compound words have been integrated into language as speakers have discovered those relationships. It makes perfect sense to call a cake that could fit into a cup a cupcake and to call a ball thrown through a basket (now a hoop) a basketball.

The rules for compound words, listed earlier in the post, include the word usually. That word means the rules are not hard and fast, and there are examples of compound words that break those rules.

For example, compound words that are verbs are usually open form, but here are rule-breaking closed-form compound verbs that remind us to hold those rules loosely:

• I need to proofread my essay.

• I think the clerk shortchanged me.

• I have to babysit my little sister.

2. Open Compound Words

In an open compound word, there is a space between the two independent words, though they are still treated as one unit with a new “compound meaning. ”

Examples of Open Compound Words

• Living room: as a unit, this compound noun refers to a room in a house.

• High school: as a unit, this compound noun refers to a school that has students in grades 9-12.

• Post office: as a unit, this compound refers to a building where mail is collected, sorted, and sent.

• Give up: as a unit, this compound verb means to stop trying.

• Ask for: as a unit, this compound verb means to request something.

3. Hyphenated Compound Words

Hyphenated compound words have hyphens between each of the independent words that serve as connectors. The hyphens are a visual cue that the words form one unit.

Some compound words are always hyphenated.

Did you notice that all of those examples are nouns? Remember: the rules are flexible!

Examples of Hyphenated Compound Adjectives:

When compound words are used as adjectives (officially known as compound adjectives), the hyphenation rules change depending on where the compound adjective comes in the sentences.

If the compound adjective comes before the noun it modifies (describes), you should usually add a hyphen:

Of course, there are exceptions. Remember, those “rules” are flexible. Some compound adjectives that precede the nouns they modify never take a hyphen. For example, ice cream and high school:

• High school students
• Ice cream sundae

There’s really no “why” to explain these exceptions; we’ve just adopted these forms and made them part of our language.

Examples of Open-Form Compound Adjectives

If the compound adjective comes after the noun it modifies, the hyphen is usually omitted.

• Make sure the files are up to date. “Up to date” modifies, but comes after, the noun “files.”

• The cat is two years old. “Two years old” modifies, but comes after, the noun “cat.”

Though post-noun modifiers don’t technically take hyphens, according to Merriam-Webster, usage trends indicate the hyphens are often included anyway, if the compounds “continue to function as unit modifiers. ” So there’s that flexibility again.

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What About Adverb Compounds?

It’s easy to find examples of closed, open, and hyphenated adverbs.

As for the closed-form examples, we probably don’t even register them as compound words much of the time.

• Sometimes

• Thereafter

• Somewhere

Open-form adverbs occur when the adverb is the first word in the compound and ends in -ly. You should not hyphenate after an -ly adverb.

• We made the discovery early on.

• Her opinion is highly regarded.

• They entered the dimly lit room.

What to Do If You’re Not Sure Which Form Is Right

While those flexible rules can help you, there may still be times when you feel confused about which compound form to use. Don’t stress too much.

According to Merriam Webster, the rules are more like patterns. You may see differences in different publications depending on editorial choice and style. For example, I looked on Amazon for a teapot. I saw mostly teapots, but also a few tea pots. Out of curiosity I put “tea pot” into a New York Times search bar, and found articles from the 1800s that included “tea-pot” in the title!

While interesting, those stylistic changes and choices shouldn’t be too surprising. Language is fluid and ever-evolving. Compound words themselves are proof of that evolution.

Keep Clarity the Focus

The purpose of hyphens in compound words is to ensure clarity. For example,

In the first example, I know by the hyphen that the medicine "I" bought did not require a prescription. "Over-the-counter" is one unit—one compound—describing a type of medicine.

In the second example, "over the counter" is serving another purpose and, while the words form a phrase to tell me where "he" passed the medicine, hyphens do nothing to make the purpose of the phrase clear and are therefore unnecessary.

Now look at these examples:

• He owned a little-used car.
• He owned a little used car.

In the first example, I know the man owns a car that has not been driven much. The car is described by the compound modifier "little-used."

In the second example, it seems that the man owns a used car that is also small, or little. In this example, putting a comma after "little" would help to separate the two words, "little" and "used," and show that they aren't intended to work as a compound.

ProWritingAid Can Help

Though you’re a compound-word expert now, if you find yourself with lingering doubts, remember that ProWritingAid is here to help. It will let you know if you’ve added an unnecessary hyphen after an -ly adverb, or if you’ve left one out of a pre-noun compound adjective. You don’t have to write alone!

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Spelling of compound words - table, examples (6th grade, Russian)

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The vocabulary of the Russian language is significantly enriched by compound words, but their spelling often causes difficulties for schoolchildren. To write such words correctly, you need to be well versed in the relevant rules. Compound words can refer to different parts of speech and can be written both together and with a hyphen.

Spelling of compound nouns

The spelling table of compound words will help you remember the rules for their spelling.

As for scientific and technical terms, the first part of which is a letter of the Latin alphabet, there are still disputes about whether they can be considered full-fledged compound words. However, if we count, then it is worth noting that they are written with a hyphen - k-radiation.

Spelling of compound adjectives

Adjectives can also be compound. Together or through a hyphen, they are written depending on many points. So, if an adjective is formed from a phrase in which one word is subordinate to another, then it will be written together. The simplest example is the word railway, which is formed from a combination of a noun and an adjective: railway + road .

Most scientific and technical terms, the first part of which are such words as high-, narrow-, many-, higher- and the like, are written together, for example, high-octane, diversified.

If one of the parts of a compound adjective cannot be used as a separate word, then it is also written together: national .

As for the spelling of adjectives with a hyphen, the spelling of compound words in this case is also governed by a number of rules. Naturally, if an adjective is formed from a compound noun that is written with a hyphen, then it will also be characterized by hyphenated spelling: New York (from New York) . The same applies to an adjective formed from a combination of a first and last name: lev-tolstoy .

Hyphenated writing is also typical for adjectives formed from two equal bases (commercial and industrial) , and for those whose parts indicate different signs (national liberation) , and for those that denote shades of color or taste (ash pink, bittersweet) .

Adjectives included in geographical names (Western Ukrainian) and bearing a terminological character (purulent-inflammatory) are written through a hyphen.

What have we learned?

Compound words in Russian can be written together or with a hyphen. There are spelling rules for nouns and adjectives that can overlap (for example, when an adjective is formed from a compound noun). It is very important to remember all these rules, since the spelling of such nouns and adjectives is one of the most difficult topics in the school curriculum. The rules imply a strict writing algorithm, but there are a few exceptions that you also need to remember.

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Spelling of compound words together and with a hyphen: a table, a rule with examples

The rules for spelling compound words in the spelling of the Russian language are among the most difficult. With all this, the rules can be divided into three main types:
a) the basic rules for all parts of speech when we write compound words together or with a hyphen;
b) rules when we write nouns together or with a hyphen;
c) rules when we write adjectives together or with a hyphen.

Basic rules

Compound words are written together in the following cases: grapho-, zoo-, iso-, quasi-, cinema-, pseudo-, macro-, micro-, meteo-, moto-, multi-, neo-, paleo-, poly-, pseudo-, radio-, tele- , thermo-, stereo-, photo-, phono-, electro-.
Examples: library tech, multi millionaire, radio tower, bio graphic, aero bus.
Exceptions: compound words, the second part of which contains a proper name - false - Dmitry, cinema - Ostap.

- the word begins with a prefix borrowed from other languages: anti-, archi-, hyper-, inter-, infra-, counter-, pan-, pseudo-, sub-, super-, trans-, ultra-, extra .
Examples: Pan American, Ultra Fashion, Extra Ordinary.
Exceptions: Pan - America (and other words, if after foreign prefixes there is a word with a capital letter), counter - admiral, extra - class.

- the first part of the compound word was formed from the name of the numeral in R. p. with suffixes: -i-, -u-, -uh-, -a-, etc. four single, two personal, forty anniversary, six multiple.

- the word begins with half-, one and a half-, quarter-.
Examples: half month, one and a half meters, quarter final.

Continuous and hyphenated spelling of compound nouns

Continuous	With a hyphen
Compound nouns formed by reducing stems. Examples: deputy director, special correspondent, Ministry of Defense, regional department.	Compound compound nouns formed by adding independent words without connecting vowels. Examples: sofa bed, prime minister, diesel engine, lord chancellor.
Compound nouns with the second part -meter, -grad, -city. Examples: voltmeter, Uzhgorod, Belgrade.	Compound compound nouns naming polit. parties, trends. Examples: social democracy, social revolutionary.
Compound nouns with the first part of the board-. Examples: flight attendant, flight engineer.	Compound compound nouns that name units of measure. Examples: gram-molecule, kilowatt-hour. Exceptions: workday, workhour.
Compound nouns, the first part of which ends in -i (the verb form in the imperative mood). Examples: mountain color, holding imord, torn needle. Exception: tumbleweed.	Compound names of cities, plants, etc., containing prepositions, conjunctions, particles. Examples: Komsomolsk - on - Amur, Ivan - and - Marya.
Compound nouns naming peoples, tribes, people by occupation, interests and place of residence, which were formed from place names with hyphens. Examples: Orekhovo-Zuyevo - Nutcrackers, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rican, Ku Klux Klan - Ku Klux Klan.	Compound nouns naming intermediate parts of the world. Examples: northeast, southwest, northeast.
	Compound nouns that begin with elements of foreign origin: ober-, unter-, leib-, headquarters, staff-, vice-, ex-, block-, press-, maxi-, midi-, mini-. Examples: life guard, staff captain, vice admiral, ex-champion, block diagram, midi skirt. Exceptions: checkpoint, blockhouse, notepad.
	Compound nouns - scientific terms that include the names of foreign letters. Examples: alpha radiation, beta particle, gamma rays.
	Compound nouns - compound surnames, geographer. titles. Examples: New York, Novikov-Priboy, Yoshkar-Ola.
	Compound words with first part expressing evaluation. Examples: miracle child, fever bird, fight woman.

Writing compound nouns with semi-

Compound nouns with semi-writing:
— together in cases where the next part of the word begins with a consonant letter, except for l. Examples: half a glass, half a bucket, half an hour.
- separately in cases where there is a definition between the gender and the noun. Examples: iron bucket floor, cherry orchard floor.
- hyphenated in cases where the next part begins with a vowel, the consonant l or the second stem is expressed by a proper name. Examples: half pineapple, half leaf, half cucumber, half America.

Continuous and hyphenated compound adjectives

One piece	With a hyphen
Compound adjectives formed from the complex. n., written together. Examples: microwave (microwaves), locomotive (steam locomotive).	Compound adjectives, formed from the complex. noun with hyphens. Examples: northeast (northeast), social democratic (social democracy).
Compound adjectives, which were formed from phrases with a subordinate connection. Examples: grey-eyed (gray eyes), machine builder (build cars).	Compound adjectives, which were formed from phrases with a coordinating connection or from words denoting heterogeneous features. Examples: German-Russian (German and Russian), convex-concave (not only convex, but also concave).
Complicated adjectives, one part of which cannot be used separately. Examples: fast hard , wide hard .	Complex adjectives that denote shades of color, taste, etc. Examples: white-pink, light green, bitter-salty, rolling-loud.
Complex applications with the first part of the upper, lower, ancient, middle, early, late, general. Examples: ancient Russian, common unavailable, medium non-level.	Compound adjectives that denote geographical, administrative names, and which begin with east, west, north, north, south, south. Examples: West - Kazakhstan region, East - European plain, Military - Georgian road.
Complex applications with the first part, expressed by adverbs high, low, above, below, thick, deep, little, much, shallow, light, heavy, sharp, flat, wide, narrow, strong, weak, thick, thin, cool, large. Examples: thick wall, high vitamin, wide wide spread.	Complex adjectives, which were formed from a combination of a first and last name, first name and patronymic, two surnames. Examples: Ilfo-Petrovsky novel, Petr-Vasilyevich tractor, Walter-Scott novels. Learn more Parent reading strategies Reading milestones by age Preschool numbers lesson plans Giant and the beanstalk Rules for short and long vowels First grade reading level chart How to get better social skills Construction site trucks The color blue song Testing reading levels Spelling help for 3rd graders