Chapter 18 Notes: The Hyphen in Court Reporting

Hyphen usage in Chapter 18

• Introduction: Hyphen anxiety is common among court reporters; overuse and incorrect use are frequent. The speaker recommends a practical resource for hyphenation guidance.
  • Recommended book: One Word, Two Words Hyphenated by Mary Louise Gillman. It’s inexpensive and acts like a dictionary of hyphenated words.
  • The book helps reduce hyphen anxiety by clarifying when to hyphen or not, especially for compound adjectives and evolving terms.

Key ideas and guiding principles

• When two or more words are combined to form a compound adjective that precedes a noun, hyphenation is often used (though language evolves). Examples mentioned:
  • four-year college (instead of four year college)
  • 18-story building (instead of an 18 story building)
  • These examples illustrate that the hyphen typically joins the words before a noun to show a single modifying unit.
• Always consult the dictionary when in doubt. Dictionaries (including newer Webster’s editions) provide guidance on typical hyphenation, but rules can change over time.
• Language evolves with culture and usage; no rule is absolutely stone-set, and usage differs by audience and time.
  • The speaker notes shifts influenced by culture, nationality, and changing meanings (e.g., the word gay once meant happy; its meaning has evolved).
  • Regional speech (e.g., Cajun expressions in Louisiana) illustrates that language adapts to communities’ speech patterns.
• Dictionaries and reference works may disagree at times; use the most current recognized guidance and consider the context and audience.
• Urban dictionary and other non-traditional sources exist, but rely primarily on established dictionaries for court reporting.

Hyphen usage by part of speech and position

• Many hyphenated forms are adjectives or adverbs that modify the following noun or pronoun; position often influences hyphenation.
• Other evolving examples include:
  • Homeschooling has become one word in modern usage; speed building has shifted toward one word.
  • Depending on the current recognition in style guides, you may see different forms emerge over time.
• In determining hyphenation, consider whether the hyphenated form is modifying a noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb, or verb.

Special word-level cases and examples

• Non-words to be transcribed as spoken: uh-huh (yes) and uh-uh (no).
  • Although often spoken aloud in testimony, attorneys may require a clear yes/no; transcribers should capture the meaning (e.g., "Are you sure the light is green?" → "uh-huh" could mean yes, but a subsequent question may clarify).
• Certain common phrases are no longer hyphenated because they are understood as a single unit:
  • ham and eggs
  • life insurance policy
  • blood vessel disease
  • direct mail order
  • credit card fraud
  • income tax returns
  • high school records
• Words like life, blood, etc., when they form a common paired term, often do not take a hyphen as adjectives modifying the noun.

X-ray, prefixes, and capitalization nuances

• X-ray usage is evolving; key points:
  • Traditionally, the X stands for the term X-ray; the form is typically capital X-hyphen-r-a-y in many contexts, but variations exist.
  • Some contexts use a lowercase x; research the preferred form for the case at hand (doctors’ deposition context, or attorneys’ preferences).
• Prefixes before a word:
  • Be careful with hyphenation when a prefix attaches to a word that changes meaning:
  • anti-communist (hyphenated; capitalization may follow the second element when stylized in prose, e.g., Communist)
  • mid-November (hyphenated; capitalization for month is maintained)
  • recovering the chair vs re-covering the chair (the hyphen changes meaning; one indicates a relapse or covering again, the other merely recovering from illness)
  • Similarly, the word resign can be tricky:
  • r e hyphen s I g n indicates "to resign the papers" (to sign again? context-dependent)
  • res i g n indicates the standard verb resign (without hyphen)
• Self and related forms:
  • Self comes before a word and is hyphenated: self-denial, self-directed, self-explanatory.
  • Some compounds are not hyphenated: self-same, unselfconscious, selfhood.
  • Use your research and current guidance to determine the correct form, as this can vary by source.

Exhibits labeling and musical terminology

• Labeling exhibits with letters and numbers:
  • Use hyphens when letters and numbers are used to label exhibits, e.g., Exhibit P-4 or P-1, P-2, P-3 for identification. Musical terms with letter names and accidentals are also capitalized and hyphenated: E-flat, A-sharp, F-minor.
• Stitching spellings when asked to spell a name:
  • If an attorney asks a witness to spell their name, spell it letter-by-letter with hyphens between each letter: e.g., f-hyphen o hyphen r hyphen d hyphen h hyphen a hyphen l for Fordhal (illustrative example).

Fractions, titles, and adverb rules

• Fractions:
  • Hyphenation rules for fractions require further research; proceed with caution and verify with the current reference.
• Civil or military titles that imply a single office:
  • Do not hyphenate titles that denote only one office, e.g., chief of police (no hyphen after chief of). Use the established title form as the reference.
• Adverbs and comparative forms:
  • Do not hyphenate adverbs formed with more, most, or less (e.g., most compelling evidence should be written without a hyphen).
  • If a word functions as an adjective or an adverb describing a noun/pronoun/adjective/adverb/verb, then hyphenation may apply; otherwise, avoid it.
• The word like:
  • Can be tricky; often hyphenated when used as a comparative modifier (e.g., Martin-like building; June-like weather; bell-like quality) to show the comparative or descriptive sense.
• Suffixes -ish, -wise, -type:
  • Usually added to words without a hyphen: ish, -wise, and -type generally do not require a hyphen (e.g., seven-ish, clock-wise, typewritten).

Common suffixes and word-form trends

• Words ending with certain bases do not typically take a hyphen when combined with suffixes:
  • -ache, -book, -fold, -house, -room, -shop, -skin, -work (e.g., headache, stomachache, toothache, handbook, style book, textbook, notebook, blindfold, trifold, looming house, boarding house, homeroom, recovery room, courtroom, workshop, machine shop, artwork, busy work, paperwork, sheepskin, pigskin).
• Hyphenation and compound nouns that refer to two roles or two aspects joined together:
  • great-grandmother is typically hyphenated.
  • actor-director (two roles represented by a single person) would be hyphenated.
  • attorney-client privilege would be hyphenated.
  • work-study (hyphenated) as a compound modifier or noun.
• Alternatives to hyphenation:
  • Dashes can be used as an alternative to hyphenation in some contexts; refer to style guides for preference and consistency.

Language evolution and practical guidance

• Words evolve through usage and time; some compounds gradually merge:
  • eyewitness used to be one word; now many style guides treat it as two words or one depending on the dictionary; evolution occurs as the term becomes more conventional.
  • Eyewitness examples illustrate the growth from separate words to joined words to a middle state over time.
• Practical guidance:
  • In doubt, rely on the current dictionary or usage guide used by your court or firm.
  • Be mindful of audience, jurisdiction, and the preferred style guide (Webster’s, Dictionary of Usage and Style, etc.).
  • If sources disagree, choose the form that best communicates the intended meaning and remains consistent throughout your transcript.

Cross-cutting advice and takeaways

• The core strategy is to ensure your hyphen use clarifies meaning and avoids ambiguity in testimony.
• Use hyphens to link words that function together as a single modifier before a noun; avoid hyphens when the words do not form a single modifier or when established usage has dropped the hyphen.
• Maintain consistency in your chosen style across a document or case, and adapt to client or court preferences.
• Always prioritize clear communication of what was said or done, especially when meanings hinge on hyphen placement (e.g., re-covering vs recovering).
• Resources to consult regularly:
  • One Word, Two Words Hyphenated by Mary Louise Gillman
  • Dictionary references and the latest Webster’s dictionaries for hyphenation guidance
  • Dictionary of Usage and Style for alternative hyphenation recommendations
  • Other references like urban dictionary for nonstandard terms, but rely on authoritative sources for court work

Practical examples recap (quick reference)

• Hyphenate before a noun when forming a compound adjective: 4-year college, 18-story building
• Do not hyphenate common fixed expressions: ham and eggs, life insurance policy, direct mail order, credit card fraud, income tax returns, high school records
• X-ray usage varies; be guided by context and court preference; often capital X-hyphen-r-a-y, but verify
• Prefix handling: anti-communist; mid-November; re-covering vs recovering; resign variations; self- (denial, directed, explanatory) vs selfsame/unselfconscious/selfhood as appropriate
• Exhibits labeling: Exhibit P-4; P-1, P-2, P-3 for identification; musical terms capitalized and hyphenated: E-flat, A-sharp, F-minor
• Spelling names: spell with hyphens between letters when requested
• Fractions: consult guidance; treat with care due to lack of universal, fixed rules
• Titles that imply a single office should not be hyphenated (e.g., chief of police)
• More, most, less: do not hyphenate when used as adverbs; hyphenation occurs when they form a compound modifier preceding a noun
• Like: use with hyphen in descriptive phrases (Martin-like building, June-like weather, bell-like quality)
• Suffixes: -ish, -wise, -type typically attach without hyphen; many common bases do not require hyphenation when suffixed
• Transitional nature of hyphenation: eyewitness can shift between forms; observe current usage in your practicing dictionary