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Phrasal verbs can be confusing. Many writers, including some Nigerian newspapers, do not know when to separate words like these or write them together. It is usually embarrassing to see a top Nigerian newspaper cast a cover headline like: “Mixed reactions as state governors handover” or “Senate president sworn-in.”
To some people, this does not matter, but in serious communication, it is very important. It is not acceptable to mix up such expressions. The danger in not using them correctly is that many impressionable people who read such documents end up assuming that such errors represent the standard form. The errors are thereby handed down from one generation to another.
In official communication, it is unacceptable to adopt the it-does-not-matter attitude. The priority always should be to communicate correctly and appropriately according to the rules of the language. If the rules of the language are discountenanced, then the result is linguistic anarchy.
It may seem difficult for some people to know when to write these words together or when to hyphenate them or when to write them separately. But in reality, it is very simple. Therefore, one should not bank on luck to determine what is right or wrong in such situations.
There is a simple code that will help even those who hate technical words to know when to write these words together or when to write them as separate words.
Code: When faced with words like this, just try to create a past tense of the word. If it has a past tense, then it must be separated as two different words. But if it cannot accept a past tense, then it is a noun that must be written together or hyphenated, depending on the circumstances.
Let us look at some examples to make this clearer.
Which is correct?
- Mixed reactions as state governors handover
- Mixed reactions as state governors hand over
Let us try to turn the word into past tense and see which one works.
- Mixed reactions as state governors “handedover”
- Mixed reactions as state governors “handed over”
The first option cannot be turned into the past tense but the second option can. So the words should be separated because this is a phrasal verb.
More Examples
- May 29 is the date for Nigeria’s political handover/hand over.
- The President will handover/hand over on May 29.
Turning “Option a” into past tense, we have as follows:
- May 29 is the date for Nigeria’s political “handed over.”
- May 29 is the date for Nigeria’s political “handover.”
Definitely, “i” makes no sense. So “ii” is correct. The word is a noun and must be written as one word.
Turning “Option b” into past tense, we have as follows:
- The President “handedover” on May 29.
- The President “handed over” on May 29.
Beyond doubt, “i” is not English. Therefore, “ii” is correct. It is a phrasal verb and must be written as two separate words.
The same applies to “swear in/swearing-in”:
- The Chief Justice of Nigeria will swear-in/swear in the President.
- The swearing in/swearing-in ceremony will take place on May 29.
Let’s turn them to past tense:
- The Chief Justice of Nigeria “swore-in” in the President.
- The Chief Justice of Nigeria “swore” in the President.
Since the word “swear” can change to past tense, it is a verb. Therefore, there should be no hyphen between “swear” and “in.”
Consequently, one can have such forms as:
Present tense:
The Chief Justice of Nigeria swears in the President every four years.
Past tense:
The Chief Justice of Nigeria swore in the President last May 29.
Past participle:
The Chief Justice of Nigeria has just sworn in the new President.
Present continuous:
The Chief Justice of Nigeria is swearing in the President.
Future tense: The Chief Justice of Nigeria will swear in the President on May 29.
A phrasal verb is a group of words that functions as a verb and combines a verb with a preposition or an adverb or both. Its meaning is usually different from the combined meanings of the individual words. Examples: Swear in, look down on, kick off, knock out, melt down, hand over, lock down, pick up, hang out, brush aside, etc. The verb in it can change its form. A phrasal verb must never be hyphenated.
- The “sworing in” ceremony took place on May 29.
- The “swearing-in” ceremony took place on May 29.
Clearly, “i” is unknown in English. It is obvious that the expression is not verbal. Its role is adjectival because it is qualifying the noun “ceremony.” So it should be hyphenated.
Other examples of compound nouns and their phrasal verbs:
Noun Phrasal verb
(a) kickoff (to) kick off
(a) meltdown (to) melt down
(a) takeover (to) take over
(a) handover (to) hand over
(a) handout (to) hand out
(a) hangout (to) hang out
(a) build-up (to) build up
(a) warm-up (to) warm up
(a) rollout (to) roll out
(a) stopover (to) stop over
(a) clampdown (to) clamp down
(a) turnaround (to) turn around
(a) break-in (to) break in
(a) break-up (to) break up
(a) pickup (to) pick up
(a) breakdown (to) break down
(a) setback (to) set (one) back
(a) walkover (to) walk over
well known or well-known?
WRONG: Gyang is well-known in his hometown.
RIGHT: It is a well-known fact that Gyang is well known in his hometown.
Whenever “well known” does not come before a noun or another adjective, it should not be hyphenated. But when it does, it should be hyphenated – that means it is playing the role of an adjective.
Examples:
- before a noun/adjective
Diliora is a well-known scientist.
Olisaemeka is a well-known, resulted-oriented manager of people and resources.
Funmi is a well-known, compelling writer.
- after a noun
Tashikalmah is well known for his philanthropy.
The Maasai are well known for their colourful attire.
The keen sight of the eagle is well known.
Note
There are two types of adjective: postpositive (or postnominal) adjectives and prespositive adjectives.
Postpositive adjectives come after the nouns they modify. Examples:
God almighty
heir apparent
secretary general
time immemorial
- Adapted from English Incorporated (2nd edition) by Azuka Onwuka
–Twitter @BrandAzuka
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