Architecture / Building / Hyphen

hyphenations: many phrases are clarified when augmented by a hyphen; the following architectural terminology is clarified by employing the general rules of hyphenation:

  1. in general, hyphenate an adjectival construction, one that which precedes the subject
  2. in general, do not hyphenate an “ly” word, including “federally”
  3. do not hyphenate “late” or “early” before a century

one-over-one–light double-hung sash: write out the numbers, not 1/1 double-hung sash

bird’s-eye view, bull’s-eye window

load-bearing brick wall; but the brick wall is load bearing

stained-glass windows; but the windows contain stained glass

side–hall and center–hall plans; but the house has a center hall

third-floor window, but the window is on the third floor

rough-cut stone

five- and seven-course bond (note division form in a series); but American bond is laid in seven or five courses

single-family and multi-family dwelling

gable-end chimney; but the chimney is on the gable end

side–gable roof

canal-era, Civil War-era structure (not Civil-War-era)

bead-and-reel molding; the molding motif is bead and reel

standing-seam (metal roof)

nineteenth-century lighthouse

but do not hyphenate a “late” or “early,” ie., a late eighteenth-century springhouse

Palladian–style, . . . a Mission–style roofline

append “-style” to an established architectural term if your subject is reminiscent of the original but not an example of the actual model; this is not to be confused with proper names such as International Style, which take capital letters and would not be hyphenated

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