Hyphens

Hyphens

  • Minimise the use of hyphens: do not hyphenate words such as ‘cooperate’, ‘coordinate’, ’email’, ‘online’, ‘postgraduate’, ‘undergraduate’ and ‘website’
  • Hyphenate two words when used adjectivally
  • First-year student (but ‘students in their first year’)
  • Full-time study (but ‘to study full time’)
  • In-depth look (but ‘to look in depth’)
  • Do not hyphenate if the compound adjective contains an adverb ending in ‘ly’
  • Internationally recognised research
  • A highly regarded course

e-

  • Do not hyphenate ’email’
  • Other words retain the hyphen
  • e-commerce
  • e-learning

re-/re

  • Use a hyphen when ‘re-‘ is followed by ‘e’
  • re-entry
  • re-examine
  • Do not use a hyphen when ‘re’ is followed by any other letter other than ‘e’
  • rearrange
  • reconsider
  • The exceptions are where confusion with another word could arise
  • re-form/reform
  • re-sign/resign

Still stuck? Please message Sarah Gibson on Teams for more information.