The Punctuation Thread

[JohnnyBlaze]

The hyphen is about the only punctuation in regular use that confounds me.

 

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[goose]

The hyphen is about the only punctuation in regular use that confounds me.

http://www.marywood....yphenation.html

 

In Measurement:

three-mile limit; 100-yard dash; one-inch margin; full-time student; fifteen-week semester; eight-week session;

but, a 10 percent increase (The word percent is always spelled out in text format, and it is never hyphenated.)

 

Seems simple enough. What about "all, fold, half, like, self, wide, multi"?

 

Hyphenate compounds that use "all" whether they precede or follow the noun.

 

OK. is this rule all-encompassing?

 

Adjectival compounds with "fold" are spelled solid, unless they are formed with figures.

 

OK. Are there manyfold exceptions like this?

 

Hyphenate "half" compounds whether they precede or follow the noun.

 

Hmmm. Seems like I half-understand.

 

Any "like" words can be spelled solid.

 

"Fold" isn't hyphenated. Likewise, neither is "like"?

 

"Self" words should be hyphenated.

 

Seems self-evident.

 

Use a hyphen with all proper nouns and "wide".

 

California-wide, pot is legal, but not nationwide?

 

"Multi" words are spelled solid unless such a spelling makes for awkward reading.

 

These rules seem multivariable, requiring multi-exceptional thinking.

 

Words formed with the prefix "co" should be hyphenated. Exceptions: coed, coeducational, cooperate.

 

Coincidental case in point. Or is it co-incidental?

Edited October 11, 2017 by goose