Hyphen Seminar

Margie Wakeman WellsPunctuation Precision, Research, The Hyphen Leave a Comment

In introductory remarks entitled “Where Have All the Hyphens Gone?” The Gregg Reference Manual suggests that what it calls “the hyphen mess” is simply going to go away because people just don’t understand the rules. And if you go on to read the 38-page chapter on compound words, I am fairly sure you will agree. Since – for those of …

“Margie Rules” — The Subscription

Margie Wakeman WellsThe Comma, The Dash, The Semicolon Leave a Comment

I have an excellent example this morning of what we do in Margie Rules. This is my $10-a-month subscription program. We offer a 10 percent discount on all my books and seminars; a live monthly session online for questions and discussion of English topics; and a dedicated FB page, where I answer questions and explain the grammar/punctuation that applies to …

More on Hyphenation

Margie Wakeman WellsThe Hyphen, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

There are some hyphenation questions that fall into a “gray” area. This is the method I would try when you are in doubt — or maybe when you just want to figure it out. …sunny breakfast room First, it is a room. Then, it is a breakfast room. Last, it is a breakfast room that is sunny. If this works, …

More Hyphen Stuff…

Margie Wakeman WellsThe Hyphen, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

When a prefix goes with both words in a hyphenated combination, do not add the prefix and make it solid word. Hyphenate the prefix. …In your opinion, are the non-work-related conditions also disabling to Jane? When a prefix goes with a compound that is separate words, do not add the prefix to make a solid word. Hyphenate the prefix. …Please run down …

Cross-Examination Versus Direct Examination

Margie Wakeman WellsGeneral Leave a Comment

Why the difference? Why a hyphen in one and not the other? “Cross-examination” comes from the verb “to cross-examine,” which has a hyphen because “cross” is a prefix. Since noun forms are often derived from the verb form, “cross-examination” has a hyphen. Since there is no such thing as “to direct examine,” there is no verb form to lead the …

Already a Unit = No Hyphen

Margie Wakeman WellsNumbers, The Hyphen Leave a Comment

When the word “dollars” is said and there are numbers above a million with the figure and the word, the dollar sign is used, and the combination is considered to be a unit and uses no hyphen. (NOTE: It is perfectly fine to use all figures for these, though it is probably easier to read in the figure-word combination.) …They spent $1.2 …

“Full-Time” and “Part-Time”

Margie Wakeman WellsThe Hyphen Leave a Comment

These two words are hyphenated in the dictionary as adjectives and adverbs. However, as we know, the adjective form in the dictionary is the direct adjective form, i.e., the form right in front of the noun. Predicate and appositive adjectives are not hyphenated. So they are hyphenated as direct adjectives   …full-time job …part-time position   and as adverbs   …

Adding the Suffix “-wise”

Margie Wakeman WellsThe Hyphen Leave a Comment

The rule for adding suffixes is to add them directly to the word to form a solid word. The suffix –wise normally follows this rule. …We placed it lengthwise along the edge. …Otherwise, he will not be able to complete it. This suffix, however, gets added to some words where it was never intended: punctuationwise, doctorwise. How do these words …

We Are the Only Ones Who…

Margie Wakeman WellsGeneral Leave a Comment

…are listening to the WAY something is said. When “2-0-4” is said as the year, everyone but the reporter hears “2004.” Though we certainly want to be verbatim, this is a time that trying to use an apostrophe or a hyphen just makes no sense. Put “2004” and get on with life. 🙂 Happy punctuating! Margie

Letter-for-Letter Spelling

Margie Wakeman WellsGeneral Leave a Comment

The “rule” for letter-for-letter spelling is that the spelling should look exactly like the word/words when they are written normally — same punctuation, same capitalization. …Robert Hendricks, R-o-b-e-r-t H-e-n-d-r-i-c-k-s …John van Leeuwen, J-o-h-n v-a-n L-e-e-u-w-e-n …JoAnne Martin, J-o-A-n-n M-a-r-t-i-n Happy punctuating! Margie