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to hyphenate or not to hyphenate?

Posted By: mtx4 on 2008-09-24
In Reply to:

Subject: to hyphenate or not to hyphenate?

sometimes hyphens really confuse me....would you hyphenate these or not?


Full-thickness flaps were created.


The medial-most edge.


They were all well-balanced with a 10 mm block.


 




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To hyphenate or not to hyphenate nonallergic
Subject: To hyphenate or not to hyphenate nonallergic

I have found it both ways, can someone please clarify it for me.  Is it non-allergic or nonallergic?   Same with nonproductive or non-productive?
To hyphenate or not hyphenate mid, that is the question
Subject: To hyphenate or not hyphenate mid, that is the question

Ok I know the BOS says most mid use has been combined with the following word, thus no separation by space or hyphen, but sometimes it just doesn't look right.  So, what do you think about


mid portion "occlusion of shunt in its mid portion."


mid July --midJuly doesn't look right, so is it mid-July or mid July?


What do you think?


 


I would hyphenate (nm)
Subject: I would hyphenate (nm)


i hyphenate it... nm
Subject: i hyphenate it... nm


I hyphenate it sometimes.....
Subject: I hyphenate it sometimes.....

The patient has a non-weightbearing status.


The patient is to be weight-bearing as tolerated.


Dunno if this is correct but some QA nail me when I don't hyphenate it and some QA nail me when I do hyphenate it.......for a national


but privately, for private docs,  no matter how I do it, no private MD has EVER complained in 30 years.  LOL


Yes, except I don't hyphenate it nm
Subject: Yes, except I don't hyphenate it nm

nm
I would hyphenate
Subject: I would hyphenate


I would hyphenate it
Subject: I would hyphenate it


Hyphenate?
Subject: Hyphenate?

Would you hyphenate knee-chest lift?  TIA.
Hyphenate?
Subject: Hyphenate?

I'm having a lot of trouble with hyphenations and I'm not sure what I can do to get them straigh in my mind.  Do either of these need hyphens? 


She can assist in transfer of patients up to 140-pound weight limit.


She is not to exceed 140-pound patient.


TIA


hyphenate
Subject: hyphenate

I would hypenate sport-like activity. Have a good night.
I would hyphenate both of them, but that
Subject: I would hyphenate both of them, but that

x
I would hyphenate it...
Subject: I would hyphenate it...

but don't ask me for the exact reason why because I don't feel like looking it up and explaining it .
No, don't hyphenate.
Subject: No, don't hyphenate.

(Even if the BOS said to...)
I never hyphenate either
Subject: I never hyphenate either

nm
10-15 bacteria (no *to) - hyphenate
Subject: 10-15 bacteria (no *to) - hyphenate


Gosh, I'd hyphenate it too!
Subject: Gosh, I'd hyphenate it too!

I tried to find it in my Stedman's Cardio book, but no luck.
To hyphenate or not--pre and post
Subject: To hyphenate or not--pre and post

How would you type this     "pre-albuterol nebulizer peak flow was 360 liters per minute"  "post-albuterol nebulizer treatment peak flow was 370".  Would you hyphenate or not, put it all together as one word or separated?? 
Yes, no need to hyphenate, pancystourethroscopy. nm
Subject: Yes, no need to hyphenate, pancystourethroscopy. nm

.
Hyphenate end stage? As in...
Subject: Hyphenate end stage? As in...


End-stage renal or end-stage liver or would it be end stage renal or end stage liver? 


Thanks!


err, make that hyphenate
Subject: err, make that hyphenate


Hyphenate if there are 2 or more words
Subject: Hyphenate if there are 2 or more words

that could be ambiguous before a noun so the first 2 are hyphenated and not the third phrase. It helps clarify the meaning. Google "when to hyphenate" for more in-depth explanation.
If he said "and" then no, I would not hyphenate it.
Subject: If he said "and" then no, I would not hyphenate it.

x
would you hyphenate stay-at-home mom?
Subject: would you hyphenate stay-at-home mom?


I usually hyphenate it to "weight-bear".
Subject: I usually hyphenate it to "weight-bear".

as in, "the patient's foot pain had disappeared, and he was finally able to weight-bear for short periods of time each day".
Hyphenate both if they precede a noun. No if they don't. nm
Subject: Hyphenate both if they precede a noun. No if they don't. nm

x
I never hyphenate after the verb or noun....
Subject: I never hyphenate after the verb or noun....

The patient has a well-healed hematoma.


The patient's hematoma is well healed.


The patient is a well-developed, well-nourished, well-appearing  female in no acute distress.


The patient is female, well developed, well nourished, and well appearing, in no acute distress.


This is just my way, but I have seen MT work where they hyphenate no matter where it fits in the sentence, and I think that is wrong. 


oh and I'd hyphenate anterior-posterior
Subject: oh and I'd hyphenate anterior-posterior

but it's just my way....
I always hyphenate when combining would put two of the same vowels together sm
Subject: I always hyphenate when combining would put two of the same vowels together sm

Like re-enter or re-emphasize.  Or extra-axial.  Or intra-abdominal.


In another other case, if the meaning is clear and it is not confusing, I do not hyphenate.  Most clients seem to prefer minimal hyphenation.


JMHO


Per AAMT says to hyphenate adjectives such as this
Subject: Per AAMT says to hyphenate adjectives such as this


You hyphenate when it is a compound modifier sm
Subject: You hyphenate when it is a compound modifier sm

I know that MT50 says when it is an adjective and she is right, but I think it is better to give you the compound modifier rule instead.

You hyphenate before the noun in the sentence, but not after.

So...I used an 18-gauge needle.
But no hyphen after the noun...The needle I used was 18 gauge.

Well-preserved left ventricular function.
Left ventricular function was well preserved.

Well, gauge, appearing and there are others that you will frequently see as part of a compound modifiers, so that is a clue too for whether you are seeing one or not.

To be honest, hyphens do not actually change the meaning of the sentence, or at least very rarely do they change the meaning. It is just that right is right and we have to be right. Knowing how to use them properly makes you look good.
I would just hyphenate it pepto-esophageal, they
Subject: I would just hyphenate it pepto-esophageal, they

x
yes, hyphenate -year-old and -month-old...nm
Subject: yes, hyphenate -year-old and -month-old...nm

x
I would hyphenate forefoot-hindfoot.
Subject: I would hyphenate forefoot-hindfoot.

x
Do you hyphenate status post? nm
Subject: Do you hyphenate status post? nm

Thanks!
heme positve stool...hyphenate or not? TIA nm
Subject: heme positve stool...hyphenate or not? TIA nm

nm
i've heard of it. hyphenate "open-tip"
Subject: i've heard of it. hyphenate "open-tip"

/
Personal opinion, I hyphenate it as tib-fib fracture
Subject: Personal opinion, I hyphenate it as tib-fib fracture


I know it is a slash. I have seen people who hyphenate that sort of phrase etc. nm
Subject: I know it is a slash. I have seen people who hyphenate that sort of phrase etc. nm


Aren't too many left that we do hyphenate anymore. The self- words we do. The "rules" are i
Subject: Aren't too many left that we do hyphenate anymore. The self- words we do. The "rules" are in your

s
Aren't too many left that we do hyphenate anymore. The self- words we do. The "rules" are i
Subject: Aren't too many left that we do hyphenate anymore. The self- words we do. The "rules" are in your

s
Grammar question....would you hyphenate.....and is discomfort-free. Or no hyphen. TIA nm
Subject: Grammar question....would you hyphenate.....and is discomfort-free. Or no hyphen. TIA nm

'
only hyphenate when used as a compound modified, like beta-blocker therapy, but if
Subject: only hyphenate when used as a compound modified, like beta-blocker therapy, but if

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I do not hyphenate unless it is an adjective i.e. 5-mm stent or the stent was 5 mm
Subject: I do not hyphenate unless it is an adjective i.e. 5-mm stent or the stent was 5 mm