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This team is responsible for coordinating all documentation initiatives around WordPress, including the handbooks and other general wordsmithing across the WordPress project.
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Don’t hyphenate a predicate adjective unless specifically mentioned in the Word list and usage dictionary or otherwise. An adjective predicate is an adjective that modifies the subject of the sentence. The adjective and the subject are connected by a linking verb.
Examples
Not recommended: The image needs to be high-resolution.
Recommended: The image needs to be high resolution.
Use hyphenated compound modifiers before a noun. A compound modifier (also known as a noun modifier) precede and modify the noun as a unit. Only hyphenate two or more words that precede and modify the noun as a unit of it doesn’t result in undue confusion. Don’t hyphenate a compound modifier when you use it after a noun.
Examples
Not recommended: Don’t use the recently deprecated tool.
Recommended: Don’t use the recently-deprecated tool.
Not recommended: The high capacity website hosting is impressive.
Recommended: The high-capacity website hosting is impressive.
Hyphenate two or more words that precede and modify the noun:
If one of the words is a past or present participle (a verb ending in -ing or -ed being used as an adjective or noun).
For example, well-formatted text, mind-stimulating blog, or left-aligned paragraph.
If the compound modifier is a number or a single letter with a noun or participle.
For example, three-pronged approach, Cartesian x-axis, or 4-sided quadrilateral.
In compound words that precede and modify a noun as a unit, don’t hyphenate:
The word very when it precedes another modifier.
For example, very high capacity or very fast storage.
Adverbs ending in -ly when they precede another modifier. Don’t hyphenate adverbs unless absolutely needed for clarity. If you’re doubtful of a particular word being an adverb, first refer the Word list and usage dictionary; if it’s not covered there, refer the American Heritage Dictionary and Merriam-Webster.
For example, highly intensive processing or readily available source code.
Jump to the thirty-second page in the user manual.
Split the columns into one-thirds using the column block.
En dashes (–) are generally used to indicate a range of numbers, the minus sign, or negative numbers. Although you can use en dashes for these purposes, you can also use hyphens or the word to for numerical ranges. Use an en dash indicate a range of numbers such as values or dates. Don’t add spaces before and after the en dash or the hyphen. Use an en dash instead of a hyphen in a compound adjective when the compound adjective includes an open compound.
Avoid creating new words by adding prefixes or suffixes to existing words. Rewrite the word to avoid creating a new word, so as to prevent any confusion.
Don’t hyphenate a word that has a prefix or suffix, in the following situations:
After these prefixes: auto-, co-, cyber-, exa-, giga-, kilo-, mega-, micro-, non-, pre-, re-, sub-, tera-, un- unless excluding it could cause confusion.
Hyphenate a word that has a prefix or suffix, in the following situations:
When not hyphenating results in a confusing word; for example, non-native, re-count, re-mark.
When a number or a capital letter follows the prefix; for example, non-English, pre-2000.
When the prefix is self-; for example, self-diagnosis, self-exclusion.
When the prefix is followed by a word that is already hyphenated.
When the prefix ends in a vowel, and the word it precedes starts with the same vowel; for example, co-operate, anti-immune, re-establish. [review]
When the prefix is followed by a compound word that contains a space. In this case, the space is replaced with a hyphen; for example, world wide web but pre-world-wide-web media.
Don’t use suspended compound modifiers that have a common base. You can either spell out the entire phrase, or leave a space after hyphen and leave out the base. Don’t form suspended compound modifiers from one-word adjectives.
Examples
Not recommended: You can use either left, right, or center-aligned text formatting.
Recommended: You can use either left-aligned, right-aligned, or center-aligned text formatting.
Recommended: You can use either left-, right-, or center-aligned text formatting.
