Frederick W. Hamilton

“ V Any pair of words used as one name of which the second is a noun but the first not really an adjective should be written as a compound; foster-brother, down-town, after-consideration.
As elsewhere the use of the hyphen depends largely in the familiarity of the phrase; spoilsport, pickpocket.
VI Any two words other than nouns should be treated as a compound, generally solid, when arbitrarily associated as a name; standpoint, outlook.
VII A name or an adjective made by adding a suffix to a proper name compounded of two words should be treated as a compound with a hyphen ”

“ A king fisher might be a very skilful fisherman. A kingfisher is a kind of bird. Here again we have an abnormal association of words and as the compound word is the name of a specific sort of bird there is no [Pg 5] hyphen. A king-fisher, if it meant anything, would probably mean one who fished for kings, as a pearl-diver is one who dives for pearls. ”

“ The history of the language is a history of constant change. The Anglo-Saxon tongue was full of compounds, but the hyphen was an unknown device to those who spoke it. The English of Chaucer, the period when our new-born English tongue was differentiated from those which contributed to its composition, is full of compounds, and the compounds were generally written with a hyphen. Shakespeare used many compound words and phrases some of which sound strange, if not uncouth, to modern ears, but used the hyphen much less than Chaucer. In modern times the tendency has been and is to drop the hyphen. ”

“ What is the duty of the compositor in these cases, especially when doubtful?
In this volume, as in so many in this section, much depends upon practice drills. The memorizing of rules is difficult and is of very little use unless accompanied by a great deal of practice so that the apprentice will become so thoroughly familiar with them that he will apply them at once without conscious thought. He should no more think of the rule when he writes fellow-man, than he thinks of the multiplication table when he says seven times eight are fifty-six. ”

“ The hyphenated compound indicates the special meaning of the words used in this combination.
Ironwood is a specific name applied to a certain kind of very hard wood. Hence, it becomes a single word compounded but without a hyphen. Either of the other forms would be ambiguous or impossible in meaning.
II Abnormal associations of words generally indicate unification in sense and hence compounding in form.
A sleeping man is a phrase in which the words are associated normally. The man sleeps.
A sleeping-car is a phrase in which the words are associated abnormally. The car does not sleep. ”

“ Sometimes these words are mere aggregations like automobile, monotype, sidewalk, policeman and the like. Sometimes, indeed very often, they are short cuts. A hatbox is a box for carrying a hat, a red-haired man is a man with red hair. A bookcase is a case to contain books, etc.
Sometimes the phrase consists of two or more separate words, such as well known or nicely kept. Sometimes it consists of words joined by a hyphen, such as boarding-house, sleeping-car. Sometimes it consists of a single word formed by amalgamating or running together the components, such as penholder, nevertheless. ”

“ Income and outgo, for example, have quite definite meanings related, it is true, to come and go and to in and out, but sharply differentiated from those words in their ordinary and general signification. We use these compound words and phrases so commonly that we never stop to think how numerous they are, or how frequently new ones are coined. Any living language is constantly growing and developing new forms. ”

“ Each publication has been compiled by a competent author or group of authors, and carefully edited, the purpose being to provide the printers of the United States—employers, journeymen, and apprentices—with a comprehensive series of handy and inexpensive compendiums of reliable, up-to-date information upon the various branches and specialties of the printing craft, all arranged in orderly fashion for progressive study. ”

“ There is no recognized standard authority. The dictionaries do not agree with each other and are not always consistent with themselves. They may always write a certain word in a certain way but they may write another word to all appearance exactly analogous to the first in another [Pg 3] way. For example Worcester has brickwork and brasswork, but wood-work and iron-work. ”

“ Each topic is treated in a concise manner, the aim being to embody in each publication as completely as possible all the rudimentary information and essential facts necessary to an understanding of the subject. Care has been taken to make all statements accurate and clear, with the purpose of bringing essential information within the understanding of beginners in the different fields of study. ”

“ The various components of compounds are fully analyzed and tabulated. The best modern usage in the matter of the employment of the hyphen is set forth in a series of rules. The whole is concluded by practical advice to the compositor as to the use of the rules in the actual work of the office. ”

“ An adjective and a verb; broadcast.
5. Two nouns; piecemeal, half-mast.
6. A noun and an adjective; cost-free, pointblank.
7. A noun and a preposition; down-stairs, above-board, offhand.
RULES FOR THE USE OF THE HYPHEN
1. Hyphenate nouns formed by the combination of two nouns standing in objective relation to each other, that is, one of whose components is derived from a transitive verb:
When such compounds are in very common use, and especially when they have a specific or technical meaning, they are printed solid ”

“ What is done when two or more compound words with a common component occur in succession?
[Pg 19] 47. How do you write compounds of ordinal numbers and nouns?
48. What rule is given about numerals of one syllable?
49. What rule is given about numerals compounded with nouns?
50. How do you treat a compound of two nouns one in the possessive case?
51. How are compounds of tree treated?
52. What is the rule about compounds of two adjectives?
53. What is the rule about points of the compass?
54. What should you do with compounds ending in man or woman? ”

“ In phrases like in the meantime and forever and ever the words are printed separately.
Any one and some one are separate words.
40. In compounds of color the hyphen is not used except when a noun is used with an adjective to specify color ”

“ A group of words compacted into one idea; never-to-be-forgotten.
2. Two adjectives; white-hot, ashy-blue.
3. An adjective and a participle or noun and suffix simulating a participle; odd-looking, foreign-born, bow-legged.
4. An adjective and a noun; fire-new, type-high.
5. A noun and a participle (or noun and suffix simulating a participle) ; hand-printed, peace-making.
6. An adverb and an adjective used together before a noun; well-bred, long-extended.
7. Two nouns used adjectively before another noun; cotton-seed oil, shoe-sewing machine, Sunday-school teacher. ”

“ Underlaying and overlaying; modern overlay methods. Illustrated; review questions; glossary.
Describing some practical methods of pressroom work, with directions and useful information relating to a variety of printing-press problems. 87 pp.; 176 review questions.
A primer of information about the distinctive features of the relief, the intaglio, and the planographic processes of printing. 84 pp.; illustrated; 100 review questions; glossary.
PART V—Pamphlet and Book Binding
A primer of information about the various operations employed in binding pamphlets and other work in the bindery. ”