Hyphens 5

Hyphenation is the bane of many a writer’s existence. It seems that there are as many exceptions as there are rules!

In each of the following questions, test your knowledge of hyphenation by selecting the sentence in which hyphens are used correctly.

1. After a holiday, the manager had to on hundreds of .

three-week, catch-up, e-mails

three-week, catch up, emails

three week, catch-up, emails

2. A number of events were organized to commemorate the of the war of 1812.

bi-centennial

bicentennial

3. We got food at a restaurant.

takeout, drive-through

take out, drive-through

take-out, drive through

4. children their shoes quickly.

Fast growing, outgrow

Fast-growing, out-grow

Fast-growing, outgrow

5. Lai-Sim was happy to see a face in a sea of strangers.

friendly looking

friendly-looking

6. towels are practical on a camping trip.

Quickly drying

Quickly-drying

7. tablets are used to treat heartburn.

Calcium carbonate

Calcium-carbonate