Suspended Hyphens

Rule #1

When you’re listing hyphenated compound adjectives that share the same ending, you can drop the repeated word but must keep the hyphen followed by a space. Do not use in a single entry

• first- and second-grade students

• pre- and post-workout snacks

• a stain- , wrinkle- , and odor-resistant fabric

• a five-by-eight foot rug (single entry)

Rule #2

Use the suspended hyphen in the second pair if the first word or prefix repeats.

• state-owned and -operated hospitals

• over- and underfed cats

Practice

Add in hyphens as needed and delete the repetitive part of the compound.

1. We need both full time and part time employees.

2. The recipe works for both eight and twelve inch pans.

3. This applies to both pre tax and post tax calculations.

4. They have awards for worst looking and worst sounding band.

5. The bank offers 15, 20, and 30-year mortgages.

6. Consider both short term and long term investments.

7. All the first and second-grade students have the same recess.

8. The start-up produced the highest priced and highest rated medicine on the market.

9. She’s both well educated and connected in the industry.

10. She plans on taking a three to five year gap before starting college.

Answers

1. We need both full– time and part–time employees.

2. The recipe works for both eight– and twelve–inch pans.

3. This applies to both pre– tax and post–tax calculations.

4. They have awards for worst–looking and worst –sounding band.

5. The bank offers 15– , 20– , and 30-year mortgages. (note the space before the comma)

6. Consider both short– term and long–term investments.

7. All the first– and second-grade students have the same recess.

8. The start-up produced the highest–priced and highest –rated medicine on the market.

9. She’s both well–educated and –connected in the industry.

10. She plans on taking a three–to–five–year gap before starting college. (single entity)