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Important notice

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For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!

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To begin your search, go to the alphabetical index below and click on the first letter of the word you are searching for.

hyphens: numerals and single letters

Hyphenate numerals or single letters and the words they modify:

  • e-cigarette
  • e-commerce
  • e-learning
  • S-hook
  • T-shirt
  • U-turn
  • 1,2-dimethylbutylene
  • 2,4-D

Note: In the word email, the tendency today is to drop the hyphen. However, the hyphenated spelling e-mail is still in use among more conservative writers and is also acceptable.

Do not hyphenate a compound adjective when the second element is a letter or figure:

  • Class II railroad (not Class-II railroad)
  • Grade A milk (not Grade-A milk)