For such tiny marks on the page or screen, hyphens can be incredibly frustrating, and not only for the author who struggles to use them correctly and effectively, but also for the reader who struggles to understand a text in which they are not used as they should be. Using hyphens well can be particularly challenging in academic and scientific texts for two primary reasons: the research information communicated is often complex, requiring more hyphens than other material might, and that information must be reported with the utmost accuracy and precision. The three resources I introduce below offer advice on the principles of hyphenation in formal English writing and also discuss the many variations in the use of hyphens.
Hyphens are often needed when prefixes are added to English nouns, verbs and other words, but rarely necessary when suffixes are tacked on to the end of those words. The use of hyphens with prefixes and suffixes can be incredibly unpredictable, however, as this article explains. It also provides some detailed guidelines for ensuring that the hyphenation used in an academic or scientific text is correct and consistent, clarifying rather than obscuring detailed reports of methods and findings.
Hyphens are used in compound nouns, verbs and adjectives in the English language as well. As with prefixes and suffixes, however, the hyphenation associated with these compound words can vary widely. It can also become notoriously confusing for readers when it is incorrect and misleading. This article outlines the more predictable practices, such as hyphenating compound adjectives before a noun but not after it, and discusses the many variations and exceptions in both British and American English.
This final article lists a number of more miscellaneous ways in which hyphens can be used in academic and scientific English writing. Detailed instructions on using hyphens when writing numbers out as words, providing page ranges for references, omitting a common element and using double-barrelled names, compass points and more are provided. The importance of distinguishing between hyphens and en rules to ensure clarity and avoid confusion is also emphasised.
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If you are in the process of preparing an article for an academic or scientific journal, or planning one for the near future, you may well be interested in a new book, Guide to Journal Publication, which is available on our Tips and Advice on Publishing Research in Journals website.
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