Final answer:
The question relates to the correct use of hyphens with compound modifiers in English grammar. Hyphens join words serving as a single modifier before a noun to clarify their meaning, but are not used when the modifier follows the noun or if the words could be joined with 'or.' Different punctuation is used for emphasis, possession, or separating independent clauses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the guidelines for using hyphens in compound modifiers. According to English grammar rules, we use hyphens with modifiers when two or more words function together as a single descriptor for a noun, and these words are placed before the noun. This helps to clarify how multiple modifiers affect the meaning of the noun they describe. For example, 'She is a well-known author,' uses a hyphen to indicate that 'well-known' is a single compound modifier for 'author.'
However, confirm that each element of the compound modifier is necessary; if 'or' can be inserted between them, they are separated with a slash and not a comma. It's important to remember that if the compound modifier comes after the noun, the hyphen is typically not used, as in 'The peanuts that are covered in chocolate' instead of 'chocolate-covered peanuts.'
When indicating possession, different punctuation is used, such as apostrophes for singular and plural nouns, and various punctuation like dashes and parentheses help to emphasize or de-emphasize certain parts of a sentence. Additionally, semicolons are used to connect two independent clauses, and would not generally be used to separate words or phrases. Dashes can be used to set off or emphasize additional information that adds to the noun it follows, while parentheses de-emphasize the enclosed content.
Examples of correct and incorrect use of hyphens in compound modifiers:
- The recycling bin was filled with empty plastic water bottles (no hyphen needed).
- I have nothing to wear but a paint-splattered tie ('paint-splattered' is a proper compound modifier).
- Shelia's cat brought home a mouse that was scared stiff (incorrect; should be 'scared-stiff' if placed before the noun).