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Hyphenation

Two hyphenation patterns are commonly used in manuscripts. The first hyphenation pattern is shown in Figure 1.

pattern1
Figure 1. First hyphenation pattern.
Example 1. First hyphenation pattern
example

data-driven approach
example

temperature-based controller
example

motion-induced blindness

Use the singular form of the noun before "based", "induced", etc.

Mistake

  • The author uses the plural form of a noun in an adjective.

Remedy

  • Use the singular form.

Example 2. Singular noun in adjective
example

method based on infrared images
incorrect

infrared-images-based method
correct

infrared-image-based method

Avoid an excessive number (> 3) of hyphens.

Example 3. Number of hyphens
example

method based on infrared images that have high resolution
incorrect

high-resolution-infrared-image-based method
correct

method based on high-resolution infrared images

The second hyphenation pattern is shown in Figure 2.

pattern2
Figure 2. Second hyphenation pattern.
Example 4. Second hyphenation pattern
example

high-strength composite
example

low-temperature plasma
example

finite-time algorithm

Do not hyphenate words that end in "ly" (e.g., "quickly", "slowly", etc.).

Mistake

  • The author hyphenates a word that ends in "ly".

Remedy

  • Use a space instead of a hyphen for words that end in "ly".

Example 5. Incorrect hyphenation
incorrect

fully-manual system
correct

fully manual system
incorrect

highly-dense polyethylene
correct

highly dense polyethylene
correct

high-density polyethylene

Adverbs that do not end in "ly" can be hyphenated.

Example 6. Adverbs that do not end in "ly"
example

well-ordered graphene layers
example

fast-acting insulin