hyphenation - "object-oriented" vs "object oriented"


When should we use "object-oriented" and when "object oriented" when talking about programming?


An example:



Why should I start writing object oriented code?



I personally think that there should be a hyphen, because "oriented" connects to the word "object", but I am not sure.



Answer



The Chicago Manual of Style notes:



With the exception of proper nouns (such as United States) and compounds formed by an adverb ending in ly plus an adjective, it is never incorrect to hyphenate adjectival compounds [of which object-oriented is one] before a noun. When such compounds follow the noun they modify, hyphenation is usually unnecessary, even for adjectival compounds that are hyphenated in Webster’s (such as well-read or ill-humored).



So:



Smalltalk is said to be a pure object-oriented language.



But:



These characteristics make a programming language object oriented.



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