Hyphenation Rules Exercises

Hyphenation rules help readers see when several words act as one unit. This B1-B2 exercise practises common compound adjective choices and fixed self- compounds: a well-known author before a noun, but The author is well known after a linking verb; a three-bedroom house with a number compound; self-confident and self-aware with self-; and beautifully written without a hyphen after an -ly adverb. It also includes noun uses such as self-sacrifice, where the self- spelling still keeps its hyphen.

The goal is to choose the form that fits the position and word type. Before a noun, a hyphen often joins the parts and prevents misreading: money-back guarantee, state-of-the-art structure, and in-depth analysis. After a verb, some compounds become open, though a hyphen may still be accepted in certain forms. This practice builds judgement rather than a single mechanical rule, so read each full sentence before deciding. The route deliberately mixes rule-based items with accepted spelling choices, because real hyphenation depends on both grammar and convention in published English.