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The rule is that prefixes and suffixes are added on and made a solid word. However, when the word that has a prefix or suffix is more than one word, the prefix or suffix is attached with a hyphen....

When a noun answers an adverb question, it is called an adverbial objective. ...left Friday for the lake... ("Friday" tells "when") ...spent four hours there... ("four hours" tells "how long") Th...

...a five-year-old was... ...knew the 12-year-olds who... The word old/olds is part of the hyphenated compound noun when the word year is singular. The word old/olds is a combining form, and the c...

When a combination is recognized as a unit already -- that is, it is a compound noun that is separate words -- there is no need for a hyphen when it is used as an adjective. ...substance abuse... ...

As I was listening to the news a couple of days ago, the newscaster said, "The several million dollar homes in that area are...." It is clear that it has to be "...the several-million-dollar homes...

Generally speaking, civil and military titles are not hyphenated. ...is the vice president in charge of shipping. ...holds the rank of lieutenant colonel. Happy punctuating! Margie

Fractions are written out in words. They are hyphenated only when they come right in front of a noun, called a "direct" adjective. ...increased by seven eighths... ...only one third of them remain...

When you are trying to decide whether to hyphenate something, try this: ...It is a large green bug that.... It is a bug. What kind of bug? It is a green bug. What kind of green bug? It is a green...

...Ray Charles-inspired arrangement... ...Ray Charles-inspired and -motivated arrangement... ...John Andrews-led department... ...John Andrews-led and -directed committee... When the proper name ...