Is it allowed to have multiple hyphens in one word? I want to use the word semi-self-sustaining in the sentence
However, the ability to produce semi-self-sustaining stations is
possessed by up to a quarter of all nations.
Should we use semi-selfsustaining or avoid it by using partially self-sustaining?
Answer
In ‘The Penguin Guide to Punctuation’, R L Trask identifies three cases in which a hyphen is required after a prefix. One of them is where a prefix is added to a word which already contains a hyphen. His examples are non-bribe-taking politicians, his pre-globe-trotting days, non-stress-timed languages and an un-re-elected politician.
In your example, self-sustaining is a word which already contains a hyphen and to which you wish to add the prefix semi-. The resulting semi-self-sustaining is consistent with Trask’s advice.
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