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This workout centers on section 2, “Compounds According to Parts of Speech,” in our extended hyphenation table under paragraph 7.96 in CMOS 18.

Advanced editors might tackle the questions cold; learners can study the hyphenation table before answering the questions.

This quiz is so tricky that whoever takes it deserves the same tip we offered for “Hyphens, Part 1”: Within each question, the examples are either all correct or all incorrect.

(Subscribers to The Chicago Manual of Style Online may click through to the linked sections of the Manual. We also offer a 30-day free trial of CMOS Online.)

Note: Dictionaries and style guides sometimes disagree. These questions are designed to test your knowledge of The Chicago Manual of Style, which prefers the dictionary at Merriam-Webster.com. Other style guides may follow a different dictionary.

Now updated to refer and link to the 18th edition.

Chicago Style Workout 17: Hyphens, Part 2

1. Compound modifiers consisting of an adjective plus a noun are hyphenated before but not after a noun.

small-state senators
a high-quality alkylate
a middle-class neighborhood
the neighborhood is middle class

True

False

2. Compound modifiers consisting of an adverb ending in -ly plus a participle or adjective are open whether before or after a noun.

a highly paid ragpicker
a fully open society
he was mildly amusing

True

False

3. Certain compounds, including those with more, most, less, least, and very, can usually be left open unless ambiguity threatens.

the most efficient method
a less prolific artist
a more thorough exam
a rather boring play
the most skilled workers (most in number)
but
the most-skilled workers (most in skill)

True

False

4. Compounds consisting of a gerund plus a noun are normally hyphenated when serving as a noun but open when serving as an adjective before a noun.

running-shoes
cooking-class
running shoe store

True

False

5. Compounds consisting of a noun plus a gerund are usually open when serving as a noun but hyphenated when serving as an adjective before a noun.

mountain climbing
a mountain-climbing enthusiast
time-clock-punching employees

True

False

6. Compounds consisting of a noun plus a noun and indicating a single function (that is, the first noun modifies the second noun) are usually hyphenated when serving as nouns.

student-nurse
restaurant-owner
directory-path
tenure-track

True

False

7. Compounds consisting of a noun plus a noun and indicating two functions (that is, both nouns are equal) are always hyphenated.

writer-director
philosopher-king
city-state
city-state governance

True

False

8. Modifiers consisting of a noun plus a numeral or enumerator are always open, whether in noun or adjective form.

type A
a type A executive
type 2 diabetes
size 12 slacks
a page 1 headline
number one hit (or No. 1 hit)

True

False

9. Adjectival phrases are hyphenated before a noun but usually open after a noun.

a matter-of-fact reply
an up-to-date solution
her tone was matter of fact
his equipment was up to date

True

False

10. In Chicago style, proper nouns and adjectives relating to geography or nationality are always hyphenated.

African-Americans
African-American president
a Chinese-American
French-Canadians
South-Asian Americans
the Scotch-Irish
the North-Central region
Middle-Eastern countries

True

False

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Photo: Courtesy CDC/Amanda Mills, acquired from Public Health Image Library.

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