Hyphenated and unscripted compound words

Content

• How are compound words written?
• Hyphenated nouns
• Nouns + adjectives joined by hyphen
• Examples of hyphenated compound words
• Examples of compound words without hyphens

A compound word is one that is made up of two or more simple words that come together to form a new meaning. For example: opens (simple word) + can (simple word) = can opener (compound word)

How are compound words written?

• Compound words without hyphen. They do not have an accent if the simple words that form it do not either. In cases where both words have an accent, only the second word maintains it. For example: we sayéoptimal.
• Hyphenated compound words. The accentuation of the simple words is maintained and the orthographic accent of each of the two simple words must be respected. For example: histórich-artístico.

Hyphenated nouns

• Surname + surname. Compound surnames are formed. For example: Sánchez-Madariaga
• Name + middle name. Compound names are formed. For example: Jose Alberto.
• Common noun + common noun. The second noun acts as an apposition of the first. For example: bridge housing. When the use of both nouns together is generalized, it is permissive to use them without a hyphen but separate the two words. For example: car bed.
• Complementary concepts. A new fixed concept is generated. For example: kilometer-hour, supply-demand.
• Noun + referent noun. When the noun has the same recipient, it is possible to join the two with a hyphen. For example: vedette-actress.

Nouns + adjectives joined by hyphen

• Noun + adjective gentilicios. It is possible to observe hyphenated and unscripted writing. In the case of using hyphen (for example: Hispano-Roman) both words retain their independent reference, that is, they are not modified. Here, when the ending of the word must be modified, the first one is immobilized and the second does. For example Hispano-Romans.
• Adjective + qualifying or relational adjective that address the same noun. The hyphen is used in the middle of both adjectives. The first adjective maintains its form invariable, while the second adopts the gender and number of the noun they accompany. For example: criticalor-literarito.

Examples of hyphenated compound words

• It can help you: Using the script

Examples of compound words without hyphens

• More examples in: Compound words