Anonymous  +  836095 Mon, 27 Jul 09 06:30 PM I know the rules in Chicago Manual, etc. for using hyphens with prefixes (generally it's not done, except for certain circumstances).  However, there is a context I have not seen addressed anywhere.   When you have a compound term like non-life-threatening you would hypnenate it all as a compound adjective.  However, what about if it's used as a noun, not an adjective, such as:      anti-money laundering    nonworking class   As you can see, whether or not you use the hyphen with the prefix, it is still confusing or misleading.  I don't want to say the laundering is "anti-money" or refer to a class of people that is nonworking.  What I want to do is to have the prefix apply to the whole term, not just the first word, in other words non-working-class as opposed to working class.  But using all those hyphens really only seems appropriate for compound adjectives, not nouns, and excessive hyphenation, especially in technical writing, is frowned upon.  What is correct?   Thanks Anonymous Nouns, Punctuation, Prefixes, Hyphenation, Adjectives, Countries, United States, Context

	Mister Micawber  +  836451 Tue, 28 Jul 09 12:06 AM It never looks good, and perhaps the best approach is to rephrase:  opposition to money laundering.  However, if I were stuck with it, I would use 2 hyphens there. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,760 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Punctuation, Hyphenation

	Mister Micawber  +  837292 Tue, 28 Jul 09 02:25 PM In the first place, you need no hyphen if the whole thing is not an adjective: Harry Potter mania is sweeping the country. (noun) Harry-Potter-mania backlash has been violent. (an adjective, but awkward) Better:  The backlash against Harry Potter mania has been violent. Mister Micawber Nouns, Punctuation, Hyphenation, Adjectives

	Grammar Geek  +  837343 Tue, 28 Jul 09 03:23 PM The most common use I've seen is "anti-money laundering" which is the way it's used on government Web sites and a few non-profits that I saw.   If the organization you're writing about it inconsistent in their own use, then they can't object to anything you do, so just be 100% consistent yourself after you pick one.   Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,651 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Punctuation, Hyphenation