Lately we’ve been riding the precision of language train because more effective technical writers know that’s a good train to be on. Four posts ago we distinguished the verb and noun forms of attribute. Three posts ago we considered the differences between tenet and tenant. Two posts ago we detailed what distinguishes decided from decisive. And in the last post we explored another pair prone to attend confusion — a while and awhile.
But precision of language is more than just selecting the most appropriate word. Precision of language also includes the proper use of hyphenation within words. And a good example is neo-.
No, I’m not talking about the main character from the trilogy of Matrix films. I’m talking about the English prefix derived from a Greek word meaning new. That meaning doesn’t escape many writers. However, convention says that the proper use of the hyphen with neo- does. And it’s been that way for at least the last 20 years, if not longer.
Here’s the convention: Use a hyphen to join neo- with a proper noun or any noun beginning with the letter o. All other nouns do not need a hyphen when adding the prefix neo-.
In that light, consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. Because American is a proper noun, neo- requires the use of a hyphen.
But precision of language is more than just selecting the most appropriate word. Precision of language also includes the proper use of hyphenation within words. And a good example is neo-.
No, I’m not talking about the main character from the trilogy of Matrix films. I’m talking about the English prefix derived from a Greek word meaning new. That meaning doesn’t escape many writers. However, convention says that the proper use of the hyphen with neo- does. And it’s been that way for at least the last 20 years, if not longer.
Here’s the convention: Use a hyphen to join neo- with a proper noun or any noun beginning with the letter o. All other nouns do not need a hyphen when adding the prefix neo-.
In that light, consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. Because American is a proper noun, neo- requires the use of a hyphen.
This neo-American approach holds the potential to revitalize manufacturing in this country.
Remember that hyphens with neo- aren’t new. Follow the convention of using a hyphen to join neo- to proper nouns and any noun beginning with the letter o. You’ll increase the precision of your language in your presentation, and that will convey a more professional image of you and your brands in the minds of your audience.
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