hyphen

[Allen165]

I have the following title in a paper I'm writing: Sovereign State Analogy.

Should there be a hyphen between "Sovereign" and "State"?

Thanks.

[konungursvia]

It's not universally accepted as a hard-and-fast rule, but yes, put it in.

[Excalibur]

No hyphen.

One dated use of 'sovereign' is:
"A sovereign remedy for all ills." Notice: no hyphen!

'sovereign' is merely an adjective that can precede any noun it applies to:
'a sovereign, democratic republic'

[konungursvia]

The hyphen is needed if you wish to avoid confusion. E.g. "big ticket item" could be read as a "ticket item" (noun) that is big, or as an "item" (noun) that is modified by the compound adjective "big ticket."

When we use an adjective and a noun as a single concept, and use that concept as a compound adjective for a second noun, it's far clearer with the hyphen.

[Excalibur]

Let's not muddy the waters with uses where the hyphen is invaluable. Let's stick to the issue:

Is it Communist State, or Communist-State?

Hmm?

[konungursvia]

Let's not muddy the waters with uses where the hyphen is invaluable. Let's stick to the issue:

Is it Communist State, or Communist-State?

Hmm?

I don't think you're paying attention, David. The former is a noun with an adjective preceding it, the latter an adjective formed therefrom, without its noun: communist-state censorship, for example.

[Barb_D]

I agree the hyphen is needed.

The compound phrase modifies the noun that follows.

Get-well wishes, part-time student, employee-ownership culture, etc.