Page 245 - Basic English Usage

247 324 — 326

324 spelling: hyphens

1 A hyphen is the short line (-) that we put between two words in an
expression like Dook-shop or ex-husband.
The rules about hyphens are complicated and not very clear. If you are
not sure, look in the dictionary, or write an expression as two separate
words. Note:
a. We usually put a hyphen in a two-part adjective like blue-eyed,
broken-hearted, grey-green, nice-looking.
b. When we use a group of words as an adjective before a noun, we use
hyphens. Compare:
He’s out of work. an out-of-work lorry driver
it cost ten pounds. a ten-pound note
c. In groups of words where the first word is stressed, we usually put
hyphens. Compare:
‘pook-case apaper'bag
‘make-up tomake'up

We use a hyphen to separate the parts of a long word at the end of a
line. (To see where to divide words, look in a good dictionary.)
... 4s not in accordance with the policy of the present govern-
ment, which was...

325 spelling: ie and ei

The sound /i:/ (as in believe) is often written je, but not usually ef.
However, we write e/ after c. English children learn a rhyme:
‘ibefore e
except after c.’
believe chief field grief
ceiling deceive receive receipt

326 spelling: -ise and -ize

Many English verbs can be spelt with either -ise or -ize. In American
English, -ize is preferred in these cases. Examples:
mechanize/mechanise (GB) —mechanize (US)
computerize/computerise (GB) computerize (US)
Words of two syllables usually have -ise in both British and American
English.
surprise (NOT sefpHze) revise advise comprise despise
(but GB and US capsize, baptize; GB also baptise)