H

headline capitalization:

Capitalize the first word only, unless the headline contains a word that is capitalized in text (such as “English,” “African,” or “Earth”).


hyphenation of compound words:

Hyphenation of compound words generally follows Webster’s, so when in doubt, consult that reference. Here are some basic rules: Words formed with prefixes are not usually hyphenated:

  • prewar
  • prelaw
  • premedicine
  • nonprofit
  • midyear
  • childcare program; she needed more childcare (note that UC Santa Cruz style differs from AP in this usage; AP prefers the open compound “child care” as a noun and the hyphenated “child-care” as an adjective)

Exceptions: When the second element is capitalized, when the second element is a figure, to avoid letter duplication, or to distinguish homonyms:

  • pre-Civil War
  • pre-1960
  • mid-June
  • pre-enrollment
  • pre-register, pre-registration
  • re-enter, re-entry
  • re-create, un-ionized

Many compounds that are spelled open as nouns are hyphenated as adjectives:

  • field-study program; she conducted a field study (not fieldstudy)
  • full-time or part-time job; he works part time
  • health-care services; they lacked adequate health care (not healthcare)
  • low-income family; the family had a low income
  • lower-division course
  • ninth-century manuscript
  • off-campus housing; she lives off campus

Compounds that begin with adverbs ending in “-ly” are not hyphenated:

  • highly complex species
  • poorly organized paper

For compound hyphenation, use this form:

  • two- to three-hour period

Preferred forms of some commonly used compounds and other terms:

  • African American, Asian American, Mexican American, and similar compound words are not hyphenated when used as modifiers.
  • bilingual
  • campuswide, statewide
  • coauthor
  • copyedit (but copy editor)
  • corequisite, prerequisite
  • coursework
  • cross-cultural (hyphenated in all uses)
  • database
  • decision making
  • email
  • fieldwork
  • fundraising, fundraiser
  • groundbreaking
  • high school physics; he attended high school (not high-school)
  • home page
  • Indigenous (in reference to original inhabitants of a place)
  • interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary
  • internet, the net
  • long-range
  • multicultural
  • nonmajor
  • nonprofit (adj.)
  • nonrefundable (adj.)
  • nonresident
  • online, offline
  • postdoctorate, postgraduate
  • semiconductor
  • socioeconomic
  • underrepresented
  • underway
  • vice chancellor, vice president (not hyphenated)
  • voicemail (not “voice-mail” or “voice mail”)
  • wait list (n.); wait-listed (adj.)
  • the web; web-based (adj.); website
  • well-xxx (hyphenated before and after the noun: well-regarded, well-edited, etc.)
  • well-being
  • work-study
  • year-round (adj.)

Last modified: Dec 01, 2017