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For things that are described using two words (e.g. cooking-oil), there is sometimes a requirement to use a hyphen to eliminate ambiguity. |
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1. There are no specific rules about how to form a compound noun. "Ink-well" can be also be written "ink well" or "inkwell", and all are correct spellings. However, you should use a hyphen to eliminate any ambiguity. Ambiguity is particularly prevalent when the first word of the pairing is a substance (like "water" or "ink"). Examples:  water-bottle / water bottle
(When the first word is a substance, a hyphen is used to show that the item is not made of that substance.) ice-axe / ice axe
(Both are acceptable, but "ice-axe" makes it clear that the axe is not made of ice.) paper-clip / paper clip / paperclip
(All 3 are acceptable. However, if the clip were made of paper, then only "paper clip" could be used.) Please could you pass me that plastic wire-fastener? 2. There is also some ambiguity when the first word of the pairing ends "ing". (This is called a present participle. See lesson "Verbs" for more information.) Examples: changing-room / changing room
(Both are acceptable, but "changing-room" makes it clear that the room is not changing.) laughing-gas / laughing gas
(Both are acceptable, but "laughing-gas" makes it clear that the gas is not laughing.) |
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Claire's uncle used to be a|
What are nouns? The different types of nouns Alternatives to hyphens in compound adjectives Hyphens in compound adjectives Hyphens in prefixes |