Regardless of how good you are at grammar, hyphens can be a pain.
Here is the rule for using the prefix ‘re’ with or without a hyphen:
Use a hyphen with ‘re’ if it meets both of these conditions:
1. ‘Re’ means again.
2. Omitting the hyphen from the word would cause the reader to confuse it with another word and give the sentence a different meaning.
RIGHT: After the flood, we had to re-lay the tile in the kitchen.
(You had to do it again.)
WRONG: After the flood, we had to relay the tile in the kitchen.
(Was it a race?)
RIGHT: The quarterback reinjured his throwing arm.
WRONG: The quarterback re-injured his throwing arm.
(The hyphen is unnecessary here.)
RIGHT: I guess I’ll have to re-cover that stained couch cushion.
(This means you have to put a new cover on that cushion.)
WRONG: I guess I’ll have to recover that stained couch cushion.
(If you want it back, this is correct; otherwise, you need that hyphen!)
