Hyphens with prefixes and suffixes

Use a hyphen with the prefixes all-, ex-, and self-.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: The all breed champion at this year's Westminster Kennel Club show was Chindee Chili Pepper. Revised sentence: The all-breed champion at this year's Westminster Kennel Club show was Chindee Chili Pepper.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: When Home Depot goes ex dividend in July, the stock price is expected to dip. Revised sentence: When Home Depot goes ex-dividend in July, the stock price is expected to dip.

Use a hyphen with the suffix -elect.

Use a hyphen with all prefixes before a proper noun.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: In the 1960s, flag burning was considered anti American, but the courts have upheld it as protected speech. Revised sentence: In the 1960s, flag burning was considered anti-American, but the courts have upheld it as protected speech.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: The Mississippians were a pre Columbian people who lived in the interior of what became the United States. Revised sentence: The Mississippians were a pre-Columbian people who lived in the interior of what became the United States.

Exercise: The hyphen