Tag Archives: compound words
Strange Combinations Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 11, 2021
When two or more words are combined to form a new word with a different meaning, we get a compound word. There are three types of compound words. They can be closed compounds, joined into one word, like soundproof. Closed compounds are almost always the combination of only two words. They can be open compounds…
English Ologies, Ographies, and Onomies Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 20, 2017
In English, you will find many words with the same suffix, or word ending. Three of the most common suffixes sound somewhat alike, and are often confused with each other. Here’s how to tell them apart, and some of the most common examples of each. Ology Ology is a real word, a noun taken from…
When Should You Use a Hyphen? Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 21, 2016
Let’s now discuss one of the most problematic issues in English grammar: When is the right time to hyphenate a word? This is problematic because most of the rules surrounding the use of hyphens aren’t absolute. Many grammarians use the words, usually and typically when describing situations which call for the use of hyphens. A…
How to use a hyphen Posted by Gabriele on Jan 29, 2013
A hyphen (—) can often be found between and in the middle of words in English. Take a look at this definition of the word hyphen to get a better idea of what a hyphen is and how it is used. hyphen: a punctuation mark that is used between some compound words or between the…
Extracurricular Activity: Cheerleading Posted by heather on May 2, 2012
A few weeks ago I told you about the extracurricular sport of colorguard. Remember, extracurricular means something that happens outside of, or is not part of, the normal school curriculum. If you are struggling with the word curriculum, it means all the subjects that are taught during a school year. Today I’ll tell you about…
Compound Words Posted by heather on Feb 8, 2012
If you have been learning English for quite some time, then you have probably come across the idea of compound words before. If you aren’t familiar with compound words, here is what you need to know. A compound word is formed by joining two words together to make a single new word. Some examples are…