If two words are hyphenated, does that count as one word or two?

Question

I'm writing an essay with strict word count limits. For example is "thirty-nine" one word or two?

Answer 1

It is one word. Consider it from the perspective of the meaning - the two parts are needed to give the complete meaning, one meaning.

Answer 2

One word, period.
The delimiter for words is either a space, tab, line feed, or form feed character.
Not only hyphenated, but also the apostrophized should be counted as one word.

Answer 3

I think the general rule is that it acts as a single word. That's why it's hyphenated. For example, "four-wheel-drive" acts as a single word to modify the noun "trucks."

Answer 4

I'm inclined to say that it counts as one word.

Answer 5

one