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The prefix re can make hyphenating even more of a head-scratching experience. However, there is really only one rule that you need to learn to determine when to hyphenate with re. Rule: Use the hyphen with the prefix re only when re means again AND omitting the hyphen would.
Aug 10, 2016 · Therefore, use a hyphen. Commonly confused ‘re’ words. recover (Rest and fluids help you recover quickly.) re-cover (I must re-cover the sofa.) reserve (Let’s reserve a table at the restaurant.) re-serve (The tennis player will re-serve.) repress (Don’t repress your emotions.) re-press (You need to re-press that shirt.) resent (I resent ...
Rule: Use the hyphen with the prefix re only when re means again AND omitting the hyphen would cause confusion with another word. Example: Will she recover from her illness? Re does not mean again so no hyphen.
Feb 3, 2016 · Here is the rule for using the prefix ‘re’ with or without a hyphen: Use a hyphen with ‘re’ if it meets both of these conditions: 1. ‘Re’ means again. 2. Omitting the hyphen from the word would cause the reader to confuse it with another word and give the sentence a different meaning.
Oct 5, 2024 · The use of re- with a verb usually indicates that an action is being repeated or done again, or that something is being returned to a previous state. For example, “rewrite,” “rebuild,” “reconnect,” and “rethink” are all examples of verbs that use the prefix RE- to indicate repetition or restoration of something.
A handy reference with examples of some common compound words that are hyphenated.
Feb 8, 2017 · re (again, back): closed except to avoid confusion as in resign (quit) versus re-sign (sign again) semi (half of, partly, partially): closed except before a proper noun or a word starting with i. sub (almost, beneath, below, less than): closed. super (beyond, superior): closed. supra (beyond): closed. trans (across, beyond, through): closed.
Both Oxford Dictionary online and Oxford Advanced English Learners’ Dictionary register ‘re-election’ with the former coming with the following note: Spell ‘re-elect’ with a hyphen after the first e. Other words beginning with re- that have a hyphen are re-educate, re-emerge, re-enact, re-enter.
If the unhyphenated version could be confused with a different word, add the hyphen. (This is most common with the prefix "re." For example: re-cover / recover (If there were no hyphen in "re-cover," it could be confused with "recover," meaning "return to a normal state.") re-press / repress
Mar 10, 2022 · A hyphenated word is a word that contains at least one hyphen. Typically, hyphenated words are compound words, which means the hyphen connects two or more words. There are other uses of hyphens that we use in writing that aren’t compound words. We’ll cover these examples later in this article.
