如何使用英文连字符

连字符是一种标点符号，具有多种功能。它可以形成复合形容词用于修饰名词，也可以将动词短语转化为一种名词，还可以将起修饰作用的几个词连在一起组成复合词。

连字符经常用于语法结构比较复杂或使用特殊术语的各种场合，例如文学作品、报纸、学术期刊、科研文章等。

需要注意的是，连字符不应与破折号（短划线）混淆。连字符的作用是把两个单词连接起来形成一个复合词，而破折号表示意思的转折或对上一句的解释。

用于复合形容词的连字符

复合形容词的作用是通过两个词的组合来修饰一个名词，其作用就好像是单个形容词一样。只有当复合形容词用于名词之前时，复合形容词中才需要使用连字符。当复合形容词用于名词之后时，不使用连字符。

在名词之前使用带连字符的复合形容词

Example: The hyper-competitive nature of the financial industry has led to the proliferation of white-collar crime and the lack of well-intentioned financial advisors.

在名词之前使用不带连字符的复合形容词

当复合形容词中含有一个带“ly”的副词和一个形容词时，不能使用连字符。

Incorrect: One overly-saturated area of finance is debt consolidation, which targets mostly-young debt holders such as college students.

Correct: One overly saturated area of finance is debt consolidation, which targets mostly young debt holders such as college students.

在名词之后使用复合形容词时，不使用连字符

当复合形容词出现在名词之后时，无需使用连字符。

Incorrect: Plagiarism in online articles is becoming all-too-common.

Correct: Plagiarism in online articles is becoming all too common.

用于动词短语转化为名词结构的连字符

动词短语是一种复合动词，由一个主动词和跟随其后的至少一个副词或介词组成。动词短语用来表达一种动作时，无需使用连字符。但是，当动词短语转化为一个名词结构来使用时，应当使用连字符把两个或多个词连接起来使用，或不使用连字符而直接把两个词合并写成一个词使用。

Phrasal verb used for action (not hyphenated)	Phrasal verb used as noun (hyphenated/single word)
The teacher had to boot up his computer.	The boot-up took longer than usual.
The dealer will bring in the chips to the game.	The poker player had to pay the bring-in.
The fund manager tried to break down the cash statement.	The trading floor listened to the daily breakdown on the news
The trader was not the only one to mix up the order.	The boss had to stay late to solve the mixup.

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用于前缀和后缀的连字符

英语中的几乎每个名词都可以在施加一个前缀后改变其含义，而关于在前缀与名词之间是否使用连字符，规定也不尽相同。

作为一条普遍经验，用于大写字母、数字和日期之前的前缀，需要使用连字符。

通常需要使用连字符的前缀例子

Example: Most anti-bacterial soaps are effective at killing germs.

Example: The self-service counter was very popular with customers.

Example: He hadn’t seen his ex-girlfriend in many years.

可以使用连字符的前缀例子

Prefixes used without a hyphen	Prefixes used with a hyphen
The celebrity signed the autograph.	The student was on auto-pilot all day.
The scientist used the microscope.	The micro-scale model was too small.
The employee was proactive in finishing work.	The official was very pro-government.
The nonprofit organization helped sick children.	The foundation became non-profit after getting a grant.

一贯必须使用连字符的前缀例子

Example: The Egyptian sculpture dated back to pre-1200 BC.

Example: The mid-December time period is hectic due to Christmas.

Example: The post-WWII period was one of great economic growth.

用于复合词的连字符

带连字符的复合词是由连字符连接的多个词组成。学生、科研工作者和工业界人士经常遇到大量带有连字符的技术词汇。其他常见的带有连字符的复合词见于表示层次结构中的排名或排序。

用于技术词汇的带有连字符的复合词例子

Example: The strength-to-weight ratio needs to be increased.

Example: The phase-contrast microscope will be delivered soon.

Example: The researcher used Python to analyze the time-dependent variable.

用于层次结构的带有连字符的复合词例子

Example: Her father-in-law did not appreciate her cooking.

Example: The editor-in-chief rejected the headline.

用于澄清含义的连字符

连字符还可以用于澄清含义，在某些情况下消除歧义。

Hyphenated/Non-hyphenated terms	Meaning
The worker decided to resign her contract.	The worker did not renew her employment.
The worker decided to re-sign her contract.	The worker did renew her employment.
His wallet had twenty five dollar bills.	$100 total in bills.
His wallet had twenty-five dollar bills.	$25 total in bills.
He just saw a man eating chicken.	He saw a human male eating some chicken.
He just saw a man-eating chicken.	He saw a monstrous chicken that eats humans.

连字符与破折号的区别

破折号（短划线）是表示意思转折的标点符号，它也可以用于表示对上一句进行补充解释说明的语句。

这句话的英文就没有表达清楚，最好加例子展示。