Key learning points

1. A hyphen can be used to join a prefix to a root word but there are no set rules.
2. Hyphens are more commonly used to prevent two vowels appearing next to each other e.g. re-enter and co-ordinate.
3. Hyphens are often used with the prefixes ex- and self- e.g. ex-president and self-care.
4. Hyphens can join a prefix to a root word to avoid ambiguity in meaning e.g. re-cover or recover.
5. How to spell the curriculum words: interrupt and exaggerate.

Keywords

• Prefix - a letter or group of letters added to the start of a root word to change its meaning

• Root word - the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes

• Hyphen - a punctuation mark that can join a prefix to a base word to avoid spelling or meaning ambiguity

Common misconception