Studying the Spelling of the following compound words:
North American
self analysis
Great Britain
We note that the presence of the hyphen in some of these words, and their absence in others, it is justified by conventions in written language that need to be known and obeyed when using this communicative modality. However, it is not easy to specify the use or not of the hyphen in compound words, Is not it? Therefore, let's study the rules that guide us to the proper writing of these words!
1) The hyphen is used in compounds without a linking element when the first term, in full or short, is represented by the form noun, adjective, numeral or verbal.
dropper
Rainbow
Afro-Portuguese-Brazilian
2) A hyphen is used in compound words that have the syntagmatic units without, beyond, below, just:
beyond the Atlantic
beyond borders
unceremoniously
newborn
3) The hyphen is used in words composed with the adverbsgood and bad, when they form a syntagmatic and semantic unit with the element that follows them, and this element starts with a vowel or H:
well said
well to say
unlucky
misunderstanding
4) The hyphen is used in geographic names composed of the forms grain, grain, or by another verbal form, or even those linked by article:
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
Great Britain
Open Field
All Saints' Bay
backbreaker
5) The hyphen is used in compounds that designate botanical (plant and fruit) and zoological species, whether or not linked by preposition or any other element.
pumpkin girl
tern
beloved
Rufous Hornero
6) A hyphen is used in compound words that have the radicals self-, neo-, proto-, pseudo-, semi-, when the next element starts with H:
neo-humanism
protohistoric
pseudo-hero
semi-man
7) A hyphen is used in compound words that have the radical pan-, when the next element starts with H:
panhellenic
Attention! The New Orthographic Agreement established some exceptions for the use of the hyphen in compounds:
Parachute – not parachute.
Self analysis: New Accord eliminated the hyphen when the other element starts with a vowel.
semi-rectal: the hyphen has been eliminated when the other element starts with R, with duplication of this consonant.
neo-unionism: the hyphen has been eliminated when the other element starts with S, with duplication of that consonant.
Pan American: New Deal maintains the hyphen when the second element starts with vowel, H, M or N.
Circum-navigation: Remains hyphen when second element starts with vowel, H, M or N.
By Mariana Rigonatto
Graduated in Letters
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
RIGONATTO, Mariana. "Use of hyphen in compound words"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/uso-ou-nao-hifen-alguns-substantivos-compostos.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
