Suspending Hyphen
The Hyphen
Rulebase Summary
Use a suspending hyphen when a compound idea has one shared ending but two or more adjective choices preceding it. Retain the hyphen after each suspended element and type one space before any conjunction (and, or). For example: 8-, 18-, or 80-foot boat; three- or four-month waiting period; 6-, 12-, and 18-month notes. The suspended hyphen signals that each preceding element connects to the shared base word.
Do not use a suspended hyphen when the speaker describes one category, not parallel alternatives sharing a base. A written-or-oral-type summary is one format; a written- or oral-type summary would parse as written-type or oral-type — a different meaning. When or joins words in a compound modifier that includes type, kind, or sort, hyphen through type as part of one unit (written-or-oral-type summary, affirmative-or-negative-type reply) — not a suspended hyphen before type.
Examples
A. They offered 6, 12, and 18 month notes.
A. They offered 6-, 12-, and 18-month notes.
Each number shares the base 'month' — suspend the hyphen after each.
Q. Was it a three or four month waiting period?
Q. Was it a three- or four-month waiting period?
Both 'three' and 'four' share the base 'month' — use a suspending hyphen after 'three.'
A. She asked for a written- or oral-type summary.
A. She asked for a written-or-oral-type summary.
One summary format is meant, not separate written-type and oral-type summaries. Hyphen through type; do not suspend.
Transcript Notes
Because of the unpredictable choices speakers make, there can be slight variations on this principle. Speakers may create unusual suspending constructions (ex-everything: ex-husband, -friend, -partner).
Before suspending, confirm each choice independently attaches to the shared base: three-month or four-month (yes); written-type or oral-type when the speaker meant one written-or-oral-type category (no). Fetch hyphen-compound-adjective-before-noun when type, kind, or sort appears in the modifier before the head noun.
Style Guide References (2)
Morson's
BGGP