When to hyphenate

Grade 11 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   [Thirty six] members voted, and the plan to plant [one hundred twenty five] bulbs passed with a [two thirds] majority. Kira types club minutes in Chicago style, with numbers spelled out. Which version writes all three numbers correctly?

   • Thirty six members voted, and the plan to plant one hundred twenty five bulbs passed with a two-thirds majority.
   • Thirty-six members voted, and the plan to plant one-hundred twenty-five bulbs passed with a two-thirds majority.
   • Thirty-six members voted, and the plan to plant one hundred twenty-five bulbs passed with a two-thirds majority.
   • Thirty-six members voted, and the plan to plant one hundred twenty-five bulbs passed with a two thirds majority.

2. Read this first

   Draft plaque text (Chicago, 17th edition; numbers spelled out)

   The [twenty first century] wing holds [forty two] exhibits, welcomes [three hundred] visitors a day and gives schools a [one half] discount.

3. 2.

   Luz edits plaque text in Chicago style, with numbers spelled out. Which version writes every number correctly?

   • The twenty-first-century wing holds forty-two exhibits, welcomes three hundred visitors a day and gives schools a one half discount.
   • The twenty first century wing holds forty two exhibits, welcomes three hundred visitors a day and gives schools a one-half discount.
   • The twenty-first-century wing holds forty-two exhibits, welcomes three hundred visitors a day and gives schools a one-half discount.
   • The twenty-first-century wing holds forty-two exhibits, welcomes three-hundred visitors a day and gives schools a one-half discount.

4. Draft survey report (Chicago, 17th edition; numbers spelled out)

   The survey reached [ninety nine] households and [two hundred] students, and a [three fourths] share of parents said the schedule works.

5. 3.

   Milo proofs a survey report in Chicago style, with numbers spelled out. Which version writes all three numbers correctly?

   • The survey reached ninety-nine households and two hundred students, and a three-fourths share of parents said the schedule works.
   • The survey reached ninety-nine households and two-hundred students, and a three-fourths share of parents said the schedule works.
   • The survey reached ninety-nine households and two hundred students, and a three fourths share of parents said the schedule works.
   • The survey reached ninety nine households and two hundred students, and a three-fourths share of parents said the schedule works.
6. 4.

   A [two thirds] majority approved [seventy eight] new benches, and the town will repaint [four hundred] older ones. Noah edits a town report in Chicago style, with numbers spelled out. Which version writes all three numbers correctly?

   • A two-thirds majority approved seventy eight new benches, and the town will repaint four hundred older ones.
   • A two-thirds majority approved seventy-eight new benches, and the town will repaint four hundred older ones.
   • A two thirds majority approved seventy-eight new benches, and the town will repaint four hundred older ones.
   • A two-thirds majority approved seventy-eight new benches, and the town will repaint four-hundred older ones.
7. 5.

   The grant covers [short and long term] goals for a [volunteer run] program. Ren proofreads a grant summary in Chicago style. Which version punctuates the shared pair correctly?

   • The grant covers short-and-long-term goals for a volunteer-run program.
   • The grant covers short- and long-term goals for a volunteer-run program.
   • The grant covers short- and long term goals for a volunteer-run program.
   • The grant covers short and long-term goals for a volunteer-run program.
8. 6.

   Lockers are assigned to [first second and third year] students in alphabetical order. Tala edits a handbook line in Chicago style, with the serial comma. Which version is correct?

   • Lockers are assigned to first-, second-, and third-year students in alphabetical order.
   • Lockers are assigned to first-second-and-third-year students in alphabetical order.
   • Lockers are assigned to first, second, and third-year students in alphabetical order.
   • Lockers are assigned to first-, second-, and third year students in alphabetical order.
9. 7.

   The archive holds a [nineteenth and twentieth century] collection of [hand lettered] maps. Zee proofs a library catalog note in Chicago style, with numbers spelled out. Which version is correct?

   • The archive holds a nineteenth- and twentieth century collection of hand-lettered maps.
   • The archive holds a nineteenth-and-twentieth-century collection of hand-lettered maps.
   • The archive holds a nineteenth- and twentieth-century collection of hand-lettered maps.
   • The archive holds a nineteenth and twentieth-century collection of hand-lettered maps.
10. 8.

    The treasurer asked the bank for five hundred-dollar bills. Version B: The treasurer asked the bank for five-hundred-dollar bills. Ari compares two versions of a bank request in Chicago style. Which statement gives each version its meaning?

    • Both versions ask for the same bills; the hyphens just change how the phrase is spelled.
    • A asks for bills worth $500 each; B asks for five bills worth $100 each.
    • A asks for five hundred bills worth $1 each; B asks for bills worth $500 each.
    • A asks for five bills worth $100 each; B asks for bills worth $500 each.
11. 9.

    The crew will recover the sofa. Version B: The crew will re-cover the sofa. Bo compares two versions of a repair order in Chicago style. Which statement gives each version its meaning?

    • A says the crew will get the sofa back; B says the crew will put new fabric on it.
    • Both versions say the crew will put new fabric on the sofa; the hyphen is a style choice.
    • A says the crew will get the sofa back; B says the crew will cover it for the first time.
    • A says the crew will put new fabric on the sofa; B says the crew will get it back.
12. 10.

    The shop sells used-car parts. Version B: The shop sells used car parts. Jun compares two versions of a shop sign in Chicago style. Which statement gives each version its meaning?

    • A sells secondhand parts for any car; B sells parts made for cars that are secondhand.
    • A sells parts for secondhand cars; B sells parts for used cars too, so it means the same.
    • A sells parts for cars that are secondhand; B can mean secondhand parts for cars.
    • Both versions sell secondhand parts; the hyphen is a matter of taste.