So-Called And So Called

[Khandro]

Examples; We say, " so-called ISIS", (with a hyphen), but do I say, "ISIS is so-called, because the initials stand for, Islamic... etc.", or do I then drop the hyphen?
The lyre-bird is so called because its tail is shaped like a lyre

Pardon me for putting this into your crossword site, but I'm more likely to get an answer here, ta.

[dannyk13]

Yes, you can describe ISIS in that way.

[Mamyalynne]

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/so-called

[bhg481]

Hyphenating two words is meant to make then read as a single entity; hence you might have a green bird is a bird which is green but a lyre-bird is a particular creature.
There was a report on the news some months ago where the Americans had made fresh air strikes on ISIS - were they fresh air-strikes or fresh-air strikes; one is a little more devastating than the other.

[dannyk13]

http://www.yourdictionary.com/so-called?direct_search_result=yes
Adjective Para 1

[Flonska]

I would suggest that the hyphen should remain when the expression is used:-

(a) to show that something or someone is commonly designated by the name or term specified. e.g. "Western Countries belonging to the so-called Paris club"

or

(b) to express one's view that such a name or term is inappropriate.
e,g, "she could trust him more than any of her so-called friends"

but when stating factual information, the hyphen may be removed e.g. "I.S.I.L. is so called because the initials stand for "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant."

[Garaman]

You hyphenate when modifying a noun, therefore 'so-called ISIS' or 'ISIS is so called....'.

[jno]

"so" just means "this" or "thus"; "Isis is so called because..." = "Isis is called this because..."

"so-called" when it's an adjective (a compound one) before the noun; no need for the hyphen otherwise.

As for lyre birds or lyre-birds, that's a matter for individual preference or dictionaries or house style books. I'd go for "lyre bird" - except, again: "the lyre-bird nest..." because that's a compound adjective.

[Khandro]

What I have to write is; 'This story is so called because .... ', so should it have a hyphen?

[dannyk13]

No need for a hyphen.

[Garaman]

No, Khandro, good as is.

[Khandro]

Thanks, that's what I wrote, but an amateur family 'proof-reader' said it needed one :0)