Hyphenation Station: Repeated Hyphens in a Phrase
by Chelsea Lee
A hyphen is usually used in APA Style when two or more words modify a common noun (and that noun comes after the modifiers), for example, 7-point scale or client-centered counseling. When multiple modifiers have a common base, the base can be omitted in all except the last modifier, but the hyphens should be retained. Also include spaces and commas as needed after the hyphens to create the list. Note that if the modifiers come after the common base, no hyphens should be used, but the base of the word can still be omitted.
Here are some examples:
|
Modifiers Before Common Base |
Modifiers After Common Base |
|
short- and long-term effects |
the effects were short and long term |
|
4-, 5-, and 6-year-old girls |
the girls were 4, 5, and 6 years old |
|
10th- and 11th-grade students |
the students were in the 10th and 11th grades |
For more information on hyphenation principles, see Section 4.13 in the Publication Manual, our FAQ on hyphenation, or leave a comment below.
