Quick question re: hyphens

Heather.R. · Feb 9, 2010

Minute-taking, minute-taker etc.
OR
Minute taking, minute taker etc.
OR
Minute-taking with hyphen, and minute taker without?
It's both ways all over the internet.

Thanks!

Maryn · Feb 9, 2010

Never, ever trust what you find in general on the internet as any kind of model for what's correct. Trust only sites which are about the proper use of language.

Without looking this up, my gut says hyphenate. Of course you'd hyphenate it as a compound adjective appearing before the noun (She was a minute-taking wiz.) But since minute can be misread as the chunk of time, the hyphen helps the reader comprehend correctly on first reading when you say She was a wiz at minute-taking or She was assigned the task of minute-taker.

Maryn, whose gut is pretty good, but not perfect

Chris P · Feb 9, 2010

According to Chicago Manual of style:

If two words are used collectively as an adjective before the noun, they are hyphenated: "much-needed clothing" means that the clothing was in high demand. "Much needed clothing" means that there was a lot of clothing that was needed.

BUT: not hyphenated if after the noun: "the clothing was much needed"

As to compound nouns (healthcare vs health-care vs health care), the rule seems to be based on how commonly the words are used; there is a trend from hyphenation to open to closed as the term gets more common. Early on, the word was web-site, but then web site and now website is acceptable. When in doubt, consult Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary (this is considered the standard in copy editing).

eta: I would hyphenate a compound noun if it is not listed in the dictionary.

Heather.R. · Feb 9, 2010

Thanks all! Maryn, sorry, that's what I meant by the "internet"... I googled and didn't find it on many language sites or as a term used in any reputable newspaper.

Quick question re: hyphens

Heather.R.

Maryn

I Tried

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

Heather.R.