Hyphenation

General Principle 2
In a temporary compound that is used as an adjective before a noun, use a hyphen if the term can be misread or if the term expresses a single thought (i.e., all words together modify the noun).

For example:
“the adolescents resided in two parent homes” means that two homes served as residences, whereas if the adolescents resided in “two-parent homes,” they each would live in a household headed by two parents.

A properly placed hyphen helps the reader understand the intended meaning.

Also use hyphens for

Compounds in which the base word is

• capitalized: pro-Freudian
• a number: post-1970
• an abbreviation: pre-UCS trial
• more than one word: non-achievement-oriented students

All "self-" compounds whether they are adjectives or nouns

• self-report
• self-esteem
• the test was self-paced

Exception: self psychology

Words that could be misunderstood

• re-pair [pair again]
• re-form [form again]
• un-ionized

Words in which the prefix ends and the base word begins with the same vowel

• meta-analysis
• anti-intellectual
• co-occur

(adapted from the fifth edition of APA's Publication Manual, © 2001)

Hyphenation - General Principle 1
Hyphenation - General Principle 2
Hyphenation - General Principles 3–5

Removing Bias in Language
Disabilities
Race & Ethnicity
Sexuality

Electronic Media
Electronic Media and URLs
Electronic Media Spelling Guide

Authorship Aids
Ethics of Publication
Determining Authorship: Students

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