Use a hyphen in compound numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine and when used in larger numbers like two hundred fifty-five. (Note that you do not use an and between any of the numbers as that would indicate a decimal point.) Ordinal numbers such as thirty-first, seventy-second need hyphens also.

Supply hyphens where they are needed in these sentences.

1. It used to be that one had to be twenty one to vote.

2. When adding thirty four and forty two, you get seventy six.

3. One hundred thirty seven people were killed in that crash.

4. The sixty fourth running of that race was cancelled due to weather.

5. Many more privileges come to people who are sixty five or older.

1. It used to be that one had to be twenty-one to vote.

2. When adding thirty-four and forty-two, you get seventy-six.

3. One hundred thirty-seven people were killed in that crash.

4. The sixty-fourth running of that race was cancelled due to weather.

5. Many more privileges come to people who are sixty-five or older.

Use a hyphen in a compound adjective that is a fraction. Example: You need a two-thirds majority for passage.

Supply hyphens where they are needed in these sentences.

1. For that recipe you need one fourth cup of cream.

2. Cut off three eighths of an inch from that board.

3. That bug is only seven sixteenths of an inch long.

4. A three fifths majority is really 60 percent.

5. The bylaws require a three fourths majority to change them.

1. For that recipe you need one-fourth cup of cream.

2. Cut off three-eighths of an inch from that board.

3. That bug is only seven-sixteenths of an inch long.

4. A three-fifths majority is really 60 percent.

5. The bylaws require a three-fourths majority to change them.

Use a hyphen in a compound adjective in which the last word is capitalized. Example: un-Christian

Supply hyphens where they are needed in these sentences.

1. He was accused of unAmerican activities.

2. He would not move to New York City because he was a totally antiNew York fan.

3. Some businesses have an unEuropean attitude.

4. His unIrish sentiments caused many problems for the family.

5. Road rage certainly should be considered unChristian.

1. He was accused of un-American activities.

2. He would not move to New York City because he was a totally anti-New York fan.

3. Some businesses have an un-European attitude.

4. His un-Irish sentiments caused many problems for the family.

5. Road rage certainly should be considered un-Christian.

Use a hyphen with ex, elect and vice when they are used to form part of a title. Example: president-elect

Supply hyphens where they are needed in these sentences.

1. George W. Bush is now our President elect.

2. Some people wonder what will happen to our ex President.

3. Carter Jones was named vice consul to India.

4. Our vice president will now speak to us.

5. Our ex secretary will become our vice chairman next year.

1. George W. Bush is now our President-elect.

2. Some people wonder what will happen to our ex-President.

3. Carter Jones was named vice-consul to India.

4. Our vice-president will now speak to us.

5. Our ex-secretary will become our vice-chairman next year.

Use a hyphen with compounds beginning with the prefix self. Example: self-centered

Supply hyphens where they are needed in these sentences.

1. That man is very self reliant in all he does.

2. To succeed you must become less self indulgent.

3. To lose weight I must be self disciplined in my eating habits.

4. He started his college career with great self determination.

5. He refused to answer the questions because of self incrimination.

1. That man is very self-reliant in all he does.

2. To succeed you must become less self-indulgent.

3. To lose weight I must be self-disciplined in my eating habits.

4. He started his college career with great self-determination.

5. He refused to answer the questions because of self-incrimination.

Supply hyphens where they are needed in these sentences.

1. I need to get rid of my self denial if I am to recover.

2. Is that glass two thirds full?

3. I think that age forty five is rather late to start a family.

4. Our ex captain came to visit our football team.

5. Much anti United States sentiment seems to exist all over the world.

6. Long discussions continued on the mid Atlantic items.

7. His fault was that he was a self made man who loved his creator.

8. I hope to get in the ninety fifth percentile.

9. The one third minority objected to the ruling.

10. Many are worried about our vice president's health.

1. I need to get rid of my self-denial if I am to recover.

2. Is that glass two-thirds full?

3. I think that age forty-five is rather late to start a family.

4. Our ex-captain came to visit our football team.

5. Much anti-United States sentiment seems to exist all over the world.

6. Long discussions continued on the mid-Atlantic items.

7. His fault was that he was a self-made man who loved his creator.

8. I hope to get in the ninety-fifth percentile.

9. The one-third minority objected to the ruling.

10. Many are worried about our vice-president's health.

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