When I am talking about sex trafficking in a research paper, should it be written with or without a hyphen?
Like this: sex trafficking
Or this: sex-trafficking
2006-10-12 13:12:13 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
If you are using the phrase as a noun, that is, the act of trafficking in sex, (for example, "Sex trafficking is a significant legal problem"), then it is sex trafficking without a hyphen.
If you are using the phrase as an adjective, that is, as a phrase that modifies another word or phrase (for example, "Many sex-trafficking laws fail to address the underlying issues"), then it gets a hyphen.
So it is completely reasonable and correct to type it both ways in the same research paper, depending on how you're using it, as a noun or an adjective. You could in theory use it both ways in the same sentence -- for example, "Many sex-trafficking laws fail to address the underlying issues in sex trafficking."
2006-10-12 13:24:10 · answer #1 · answered by Scott F 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Use a hyphen when not using it would cause confusion or when the term is modifying something else.
For example, the term "small business man" could mean either a small guy who owns a business or a guy who owns a small business. If you use "small-business man," you clear up the confusion.
If you're using the term "sex trafficking" to modify another term, the hyphen could make things clearer. Let's say you're talking about problems associated with sex trafficking. I think the term "sex-trafficking problems" is clearer than "sex trafficking problems."
Otherwise, when the term's standing alone, it's fine without a hyphen.
2006-10-12 13:27:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Without the hyphen.
2006-10-12 13:20:40 · answer #3 · answered by Sheila 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no hyphen
2006-10-12 13:40:39 · answer #4 · answered by Joy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no hyphen....
and remember anal-retentive is only hyphenated if you are...
2006-10-12 13:20:23 · answer #5 · answered by kveldulfgondlir 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋