Hyphen in Compound Verbs
The Hyphen
Rulebase Summary
Hyphenate two or more verbs that combine to form a single verb (cross-examine, double-dare, recross-examine).
Do not hyphenate a verb and a preposition when each word functions independently (crossed off, follow up, sign up).
However, when a verb-plus-preposition combination forms a compound noun, hyphenate it (check-in, write-in, pray-ins). Most compound nouns formed from verb-plus-out are written as one word (cookout, handout, dropout). Compound nouns with verb-plus-off or verb-plus-up may be one word or hyphenated — consult a dictionary when uncertain.
Examples
Q. When did you crossexamine the witness?
Q. When did you cross-examine the witness?
Cross-examine is a compound verb requiring a hyphen.
A. I completed the check in at the front desk.
A. I completed the check-in at the front desk.
When verb-plus-preposition forms a compound noun, it takes a hyphen.
Transcript Notes
Hyphen two or more verbs that form a single verb (cross-examine, double-dare, double-cross, double-check, recross-examine, X-ray as verb/adjective). The hyphen is optional for X-ray as a noun.
Caution A: do NOT hyphen a preposition to a verb when the verb and preposition are independent and do not convey a single idea (crossed off, follow up, sign up — these are verb + adverb, not compound verbs). Caution B: DO hyphen a preposition to a verb when forming compound nouns (pray-ins, check-in, write-in, stand-in).
Most compound nouns combining verb + 'out' are written as one word (cookout, handout, payout, dropout). Verb + 'off' compound nouns may be one word or hyphenated (cutoff, standoff, write-off, send-off). Verb + 'up' compound nouns may be one word or hyphenated (frame-up, heads-up, runner-up, toss-up, shakeup, breakup, cleanup, checkup, follow-up).
Style Guide References (3)
Morson's
BGGP
BGGP