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Feb
Hyphens at the Beginning or Ending of Words
Many of us aren’t sure when to use a hyphen at the beginning or ending of a word. Here are some common beginnings and endings that don’t usually need a hyphen.
Beginnings:
anti: The entire group was antiwar.
bi: The paychecks come out bimonthly.
co: Her book used many coauthors.
extra: The student’s extracurricular schedule is full.
inter: Those two words are interchangeable.
micro, mini or multi: The boss’s micromanagement of the project caused a minicrisis among his multitalented staff.
non: Susan chose to be nonpartisan in this election.
over and under: It’s important to be overcautious if serving alcohol when underage children are present.
post: He came from the postwar era.
semi: He drove that huge semitrailer under that tiny bridge.
sub and super: Our subbasement got supersaturated during the flood.
Endings:
ache: I’ll trade a headache for a toothache any day.
less or more: The ageless soprano can still hit the uppermost notes.
like: That painting was so lifelike.
wide: Sewer rats are a citywide problem in some parts of the country.
Happy Writing!
