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SPELLING RULE (Compound Words)

This document discusses spelling rules for compound words in English. It explains that compound words can be closed, hyphenated, or open forms. It provides examples of each. The document also discusses specific rules for compound adjectives, adverbs, plurals, and prefixes. The overall message is that compound words in English can take various forms and the definitive way to know the correct spelling is to consult an authoritative dictionary.

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1K views

SPELLING RULE (Compound Words)

This document discusses spelling rules for compound words in English. It explains that compound words can be closed, hyphenated, or open forms. It provides examples of each. The document also discusses specific rules for compound adjectives, adverbs, plurals, and prefixes. The overall message is that compound words in English can take various forms and the definitive way to know the correct spelling is to consult an authoritative dictionary.

Uploaded by

missnina_90
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SPELLING RULE

(COMPOUND
WORDS)
Nur Amanina Binti Ibrahim
 InEnglish, words, particularly adjectives and nouns, are
combined into compound structures in a variety of ways.
 Once they are formed, they sometimes metamorphose
over time.
eg: 2 words - fire & fly
will be joined by a hyphen for a time - fire-fly
then be joined into one word - firefly
 There is only one sure way to know how to spell
compounds in English: use an authoritative dictionary.
Forms of compound words
 Closed form
- the words are melded together
firefly, secondhand, softball, childlike,
crosstown, redhead, keyboard, makeup, notebook
 Hyphenated form

daughter-in-law, master-at-arms, over-the-


counter, six-pack, six-year-old, mass-produced
 Open form

- written as separate words


post office, real estate, middle class, full moon,
half sister, attorney general
Compound adjectives
 Compound adjectives are hyphenated when they
appear before nouns
cross-country trip, full-length mirror, half-
baked
 When compounded modifiers precede a noun, they
are often hyphenated
part-time teacher, fifty-yard-wide field, fire-
resistant curtains, high-speed chase
 When those same modifying words come after the
noun, however, they are not hyphenated
a field fifty yards wide
 Comparative and superlative forms of adjectives are
hyphenated when compounded with other modifiers
the highest-priced car, the shorter-term loan
 When a compound adjective is temporary and not in the
dictionary, it is customary to hyphenate it
horseshoe-shaped driveway, top-ranked athlete,
velvet-trimmed coat
 Using a hyphen is especially important if the compound
adjective could mislead a reader
- fast-moving van means a van that is going fast
- fast moving van means a moving van that is going
fast
Compound adverbs
 Most compound adverbs are written as two words
distributed all over, going full speed
 Adverbial compounds beginning with over or under are
spelled solid
overeagerly, underhandedly
 Adverbial compounds consisting of spelled-out fractions
are hyphenated
two-thirds completed
 Adverbs, words ending in -ly, are not hyphenated when
compounded with other modifiers
a highly rated bank, a partially refunded ticket,
publicly held securities
Plurals
 For hyphenated forms, the pluralizing -s is usually
attached to the element that is actually being
pluralized
daughters-in-law, half-moons, mayors-elect
 Hyphenated and open compounds are regularly
made plural by the addition of the plural
inflection to the element that is subject to the
change in number
fathers-in-law, sergeants-in-arms, doctors of
philosophy, courts-martial
 Asa general rule, the plural form of an element in a
hierarchical term belongs to the base element in the
term, regardless of the base element's placement:
- first sergeants
- sergeants major
- sergeants first class
- colonel generals [Russian]
- lieutenant generals
- lieutenant colonels
- master mechanics
- deputy librarians
- deputy assistant secretaries of state
Compounds with Prefixes

 Witha handful of exceptions, compounds created


by the addition of a prefix are not hyphenated
antisocial, binomial, biochemistry, coordinate,
extraordinary, interrelated, macroeconomics,
metaphysical, midtown, multicultural, postwar,
preconference, reunify, semiconductor,
socioeconomic, supertanker, transatlantic,
unnatural, underdeveloped
Exceptions include
 compounds in which the second element is capitalized or
a number
anti-Semitic, pre-1998, post-Freudian
 compounds which need hyphens to avoid confusion

un-ionized (as distinguished from unionized)


 compounds in which a vowel would be repeated
(especially to avoid confusion)
semi-independent, anti-intellectual
 compounds consisting of more than one word

non-English-speaking, pre-Civil War


 compounds that would be difficult to read without a
hyphen
pro-life, pro-choice, co-edited

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