The hyphen need not, as a rule, be used to join an adverb to the adjective which it qualifies: as in—
a beautifully furnished house,a well calculated scheme.
When the word might not at once be recognized as an adverb, use the hyphen: as—
a well-known statesman,an ill-built house,a new-found country,the best-known proverb,a good-sized room.
When an adverb qualifies a predicate, the hyphenshould notbe used: as—
this fact is well known.
Where either (1) a noun and adjective or participle, or (2) an adjective and a noun, in combination, are used as a compound adjective, the hyphenshouldbe used:
a poverty-stricken family, a blood-red hand, a nineteenth-century invention.
A compound noun which hasbut one accent, and from familiar use has become one word, requires no hyphen. Examples:
bláckbirdbýnamebýwordháirbrushháirdresserháirpin
hándbookhándkerchiefmántelpiecenówadaysschóolboyschóolgirl
seáporttéapottórchlightupstáirswátchcasewhéelbarrow
The following should also be printed as one word:
aglowanybodyanyhowanythinganywherebedroomchildbedcoevalcoexistcoextensivecoheircornfielddownhilldownstairsevermoreeveryday (as adj.)
everythingeveryway (adverb)everywhereeyewitnessfairylandfatherlandfootsorefootstepfreshwater (as adj.)godlikegoodwillharebellhopscotchhorseshoeindoor
ladylikelambskinlifetimemaybemeantimemeanwhilemiddaymotherlandnewfanglednoondayoffprintoffsaddleoffshootonrushoutdooroverleafoversea
percentagereappearreimbursereinstate
reopenseaweedselfsameuphill
wellnighwidespreadwrongdoingzigzag
Compound words ofmore than one accent, as—ápple-trée, chérry-píe, grável-wálk, wíll-o’-the-wisp, as well as others which follow, require hyphens:
aide-de-campair-manair-shipa-kimboalms-housearm-chairbattle-fieldbird-cagebi-weeklyby-lawby-waychild-birthcome-at-ablecommon-sense (as adj.)co-adjustco-declinationco-operateco-ordinatecourt-plastercousin-germandeath-beddeath-rateding-dongdumb-bellear-ringsfarm-housefarm-yard
first-handfoot-notefoot-stonefoot-stoolfree-willget-at-ablegood-byegood-daygood-humouredgood-naturedguide-bookgutta-perchahalf-crownhalf-dozenhalf-hourhalf-wayhandy-manharvest-fieldhead-dresshead-foremosthead-quartershey-dayhigh-flyerhill-sidehill-tophoar-frosthob-a-nob
hour-glasshymn-bookill-fatedindia-rubberjaw-bonekey-noteknick-knacklife-likelooking-glassman-of-warnever-endingnew-builtnew-comernew-mownnote-booknote-paperoff-handoft-timesone-and-twentyone-eighthore-weedout-and-outout-of-dateout-of-doorover-gladpre-eminentquarter-dayrace-course
re-bound[22](as a book)re-cover (a chair)re-enterre-form (form again)rolling-pinsea-breeze
sea-shoresecond-handsmall-poxson-in-lawstarting-pointstep-fathersuch-liketable-landtext-book
title-deedstitle-pageto-daytop-masttopsy-turvyup-to-date[23]water-courseweek-dayyear-book
Half an inch, half a dozen, &c., require no hyphens. Print the following also without hyphens:
any onecast ironcommon sense (adj. and noun together)court martialdare sayeasy chair
every onefellow menfor evergood humourgood naturegood nighthead master[24]high priesthigh road
ill healthill luckill natureno oneplum puddingpost officerevenue officesome oneunion jack
light bulb