Compound words are frequently a source of grief when I receive my manuscript back from my editor. Despite my best efforts, unless I am on my toes in the writing process I habitually hyphenate words that should not be hyphenated.
Most people know that a compound word is a combination of two or more words that function as a single unit of meaning.
Most people also know that there are two types of compounds:
- those written as single words, with no hyphenation and which are called “closed compounds”– such as the word “bedspread,”
- “hyphenated compounds,” such as “jack-in-the-box” and “self-worth.”
But there is a third group, and they are the bane of my writing life–those mysterious, ephemeral denizens of the deepest corner of writer’s hell, called open compounds. These seemingly innocent instruments of torture are written as separate words–the nouns “school bus” and “decision making,” for example.
Fortunately, the…
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Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
Hi Chris, thanks for reblogging. Thanks Connie for the article. You’ve clarified the hyphen dilemma and given food-for-thought. I’ve shared via https://www.facebook.com/suzannenewnhamwriter/
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Thanks, Chris for sharing this helpful post. I also left a comment on the original post. 🙂 — Suzanne
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😀
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Thank you, Chris ♥ you are the indie author’s best friend!
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Welcome, Connie – I’d be nothing without bloggers and authors publishing great posts, like you 👍😃❤️
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Then-again we are not editors 😜
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😄😄😄
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Okay but we need to be I know …
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Keep reading Professional Editor, Susan Uttendorfsky’s, Editing 101 articles, I post every Friday, Ellen 👍😃
Here’s the index linking all her posts to date:
https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/editing-101/
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Thank you Chris. 😘
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❤️
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