Monday, September 10, 2018

punctuation - Should "pseudo" words be hyphenated?



While this question talks about the meaning of the word "pseudo", I'm wondering what the rules are for hyphenating words that start with this prefix.



For example, would it be correct to call someone a pseudointellectual, or a pseudo-intellectual? I asked Google, and he showed me plenty of examples of both, so I figured I would ask the experts.


Answer



Pseudointellectual is correct. Take a look at the following snippet from this nice resource:





With a handful of exceptions, compounds created by the addition of a
prefix are not hyphenated:



anteroom, antisocial, binomial, biochemistry, coordinate,
counterclockwise, extraordinary, infrastructure, interrelated,
intramural, macroeconomics, metaphysical, microeconomics, midtown,
minibike, multicultural, neoromantic, nonviolent, overanxious,
postwar, preconference, pseudointellectual, reunify,
semiconductor, socioeconomic, subpar, supertanker, transatlantic,

unnatural, underdeveloped



Exceptions include




  • compounds in which the second element is capitalized or a number:
    anti-Semitic, pre-1998, post-Freudian


  • compounds which need hyphens to avoid confusion
    un-ionized (as distinguished from unionized), co-op


  • compounds in which a vowel would be repeated (especially to avoid
    confusion)
    co-op, semi-independent, anti-intellectual (but reestablish,
    reedit)



  • compounds consisting of more than one word
    non-English-speaking, pre-Civil War


  • compounds that would be difficult to read without a hyphen
    pro-life, pro-choice, co-edited




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