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Word Formation - Compounds

Words can be combined to make new words: compounds.

They may be composed of different parts of speech and are written in different ways.

one word keyboard, filename, software, database, hardcopy
two words letter quality, computer science, random access
hyphenated end-position, time-sharing, cathode-ray tube

Some words may be found written in two or even all three of the possible ways (e.g. headmaster, head master, head-master). There are no clear rules for this, and English people themselves often have to consult the dictionary for the correct spelling. Some preferences, however, may be discovered by studying the examples below.

How to analyse compounds? If two words are joined in an expression ab, a b, or a-b, we can usually say

  • 'b is (for/of/in/from/with/about/etc.) a' or
  • 'b produces/provides/is used for/consists of a', etc.

 

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