When creating my world of Neveyah for the Tower of Bones series, I discovered that hyphens are the gateway to writer’s hell. I put together compound words, hyphenated to make them specific to that world.
I did this, not realizing I would be stuck writing these words consistently hyphenated for years… and years….
Take my advice and do not use a hyphen in your invented words unless the universe will dissolve without it.
In the real world, if a compound adjective cannot be misread or its meaning is firmly established, a hyphen is not necessary.
Words that are single words and don’t need a hyphen:
- backstabbing
- backstabber
- (a) breakup as in (a) divorce, break up as in taking apart
- breathtaking
- comeback as in succeeding again, come back as in return to me
- counterintuitive
- counterproductive
- downright
- herself
- himself
- hobnob
- latchkey
- mainstream
- midweek
- myself
- nevertheles
- newfound
- nighttime
- nonetheless
- nonstop
- overdo
- overexpose
- overpriced
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Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
I seem to have some sort of fixation about hyphenating compound modifiers–I’m always sticking hyphens into texts in my various writers’ groups. I’m always kind of surprised that people don’t hear these compounds and sense that missing hyphen, especially when it really affects meaning! Maybe people leave them out because they’re confusing, as they can certainly be. This is a great piece that goes a long way to clarifying when hyphens are needed and why!
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Glad you found it useful, Virginia 😃
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Chris–Thank you for the reblog ♥ What a nice way to start my day!
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Have a great day, Connie 😃
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