More about Hyphens

[image error]Instant Quiz 

Can you correct the error in the sentence below? Scroll to the bottom of today’s post for the answer.

We set up our campsite, then we took a hike along the river.

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What do you think of this sentence?

Jeff, a fifth-grade teacher, will soon be moving into his newly-painted house. 

Hyphens can be slippery! I want to make two points today. First, don’t use a hyphen with an adverb (a word ending in -ly). But note that hyphens are okay with well: a well-written story. (Some writers don’t use them, though. I told you hyphens are slippery!)

Jeff, a fifth-grade teacher, will soon be moving into his newly painted house.  CORRECT

Second, hyphens tend to disappear over time. The Associated Press recommends dropping hyphens when there’s no possibility of confusion. If you agree with the AP (as I do!), you can drop the hyphen in fifth grade teacher.

Jeff, a fifth grade teacher, will soon be moving into his newly painted house.  ALSO CORRECT

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Instant Quiz ANSWER

Don’t use then to join two sentences with a comma. You’ll end up with a run-on sentence.

Only seven words can be used to join two sentences with a comma: the FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Insert and into today’s sentence, and it will be correct.

We set up our campsite, and then we took a hike along the river. CORRECT

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