Hyphenation: Part II (Prefixes)
by Tina Blue
January 16, 2001
In an earlier article, "Hyphenation: Part I (Hyphenated Compounds)," I presented some of the situations where a hyphen is reliably required in phrases using written-out numbers or numerals. In this article I will deal with how to use hyphens with prefixes.
PREFIXES
A prefix attached to a common word usually becomes part of the word, so that the combination is written as one word.
I. COMMON PREFIXES
Most compounds made with the following prefixes are not hyphenated:
anti intra re
co macro semi
de micro sub
hyper non supra
hypo pre trans
infra pseudo un
EXAMPLES: antiwar, cochampion, coadministration, cochair, codiscover, comanagement, copayment, cofounders, copartners, cohabitate, coauthorship, decommission, debriefing, hyperactive, hypoallergenic, interpersonal, intramural, infrastructure, macroeconomics, macrocosm, microchip, microcosmic, predawn, prewar, prehistory, preadult, preverbal, prehuman, premeasure, prerequisite, pseudoclassic, pseudopregnancy, pseudosophisticated, pseudoscientific, realign, reread, reabsorb, reallocate, reassemble, reanimate, reapply, reappoint, semiautomatic, semiannual, semiarid, semiformal, semiliterate, subgenre, subacute, subcutaneous, subcontract, subcategory, subadult, transcontinental, transmontane, transoceanic, unappealing, unintentional, uninhibited, uninspiring, unimpressive.
EXCEPTIONS
A. Compounds with these prefixes are sometimes (but not always) hyphenated to avoid doubling a vowel or tripling a consonant, and sometimes even to prevent initial misreading or mispronunciation.
1. To avoid doubling a vowel:
anti-art
anti-administration
co-opt (but cooperation)
de-emphasize
2. To avoid tripling a consonant:
shell-like
3. To prevent initial reading or mispronunciation:
re-cover vs. recover (I will re-cover the sofa when I recover from the flu.)
re-lay vs. relay (Relay the message. They will re-lay the tiles.)
re-lease vs. release (Will you re-lease the apartment? Will they release the hostages?)
either co-worker or coworker (but "coworker" could be initially misread as "cow-orker")
B. When one of these prefixes is combined with a word that begins with a capital letter, a hyphen is used to avoid having a capital letter in the middle of the word.
anti-American
un-Christian
pseudo-British
trans-European
trans-Atlantic
The alternative forms "transatlantic" and "unchristian" have become fairly common recently, but when in doubt, stick to the rule about hyphenating a prefix when the word it is attached to begins with a capital letter.
II. ALL AND SELF USED AS PREFIXES
When all and self are used as prefixes, they are usually hyphenated:
all-around
all-American
all-encompassing
all-wise
all-knowing
all-seeing
all-powerful
self-image
self-confident
self-examination
self-appointed
self-styled
self-announced
self-designated
self-starter
III. WORDS WITH GREAT AND GRAND AS PREFIXES
A. When great is used as a prefix with kinship terms, it is hyphenated:
great-aunt
great-grandmother
great-uncle
B. When grand is used as a prefix with kinship terms, it is sometimes hyphenated, sometimes not:
grandmother
grandfather
grand-uncle
grand-niece
IV. WORDS WITH HALF AS A PREFIX
Words with half as a prefix are usually, but not always, hyphenated :
half-life
half-asleep
half-baked
half-pound
half-kilo
half-hearted or halfhearted
halfway
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NOTE: The third article in this series is "Hyphenation: Part III (Suspensive Hyphens)"
