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Hyphenating: meaning, definitions and examples

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hyphenating

 

[ ˌhaɪfənˈeɪtɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

word formation

Hyphenating refers to the process of dividing a word into parts using hyphens, usually to enhance readability or to indicate syllable breaks. It is commonly used in writing to connect compound words or to separate prefixes and suffixes from the base word.

Synonyms

connecting, hyphenation, linking

Examples of usage

  • The word 'mother-in-law' is a hyphenated term.
  • She suggested hyphenating the long compound words for clarity.
  • Hyphenating 'pre-existing' makes it easier to understand.

Translations

Translations of the word "hyphenating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 hifenização

🇮🇳 हाइफ़न करना

🇩🇪 Bindestrichsetzung

🇮🇩 penggunaan tanda hubung

🇺🇦 графічне з'єднання

🇵🇱 dzielenie wyrazów

🇯🇵 ハイフネーション

🇫🇷 hyphénation

🇪🇸 hiphenación

🇹🇷 kısa çizgi kullanımı

🇰🇷 하이픈 사용

🇸🇦 إضافة شرطة

🇨🇿 rozdělování

🇸🇰 rozdelenie

🇨🇳 连字符使用

🇸🇮 uporaba vezaja

🇮🇸 bandstrikur

🇰🇿 гипен қою

🇬🇪 ჰაიფენირება

🇦🇿 hifensizləşdirmə

🇲🇽 hifenación

Etymology

The word 'hyphenate' originates from the Greek word 'hyphêna', which means 'to connect'. Its usage began in the late 19th century, particularly with the advent of more complex writing styles that required clearer definitions of compound words. The hyphen itself has been used in the English language since the 16th century, primarily as a punctuation mark to aid in the clarity of written text. As language evolved, the practice of hyphenating terms became more common, especially in technical writing and publishing, where accuracy and precision are paramount. Today, hyphenating is recognized as a standard practice in English grammar and linguistics.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,923, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.