The hyphen rule always appears in English, and it’s essential to understand it and when to use it. We’ll look at “relationship-wise” as a hyphenated word today, as well as how to use a hyphen in this context.
What Is The Meaning Of “Relationship-Wise”?
The meaning of “relationship-wise” is in terms of a relationship. You can add the suffix “-wise” to the end of most nouns in English. Whenever you add “-wise” to the end of the word, the word means “in relation to” the word. So, we’re referring to the state of the relationship by using “relationship-wise.”
What Does “Relationship-Wise” Mean In Texting?
When people using a word like “relationship-wise” in texting, it means they’re talking about their relationship. This could come up for many reasons. You could be talking to a friend about your current relationship, or you could be discussing your relationship status or beliefs with a potential date on a dating app.
It’s easy to use the word “relationship-wise” in texting, and it almost always refers to a physical and romantic relationship. You’ll very rarely see “relationship-wise” used to talk about platonic relationships like familial relations or friendships.
9 Examples Of How To Use “Relationship-Wise” In A Sentence
Now that we’ve got the explanations out of the way, it’s time to look at some examples. We’ll include a handful of them so you can see exactly how you can use “relationship-wise” in a sentence.
We believe that examples are some of the most effective ways for anyone to pick up on new language rules. As long as you closely read the structure of each of these sentences, you’ll know exactly how to use the phrase yourself.
- So, relationship-wise, what do you look for primarily in a man?
- Do you have any people lined up relationship-wise?
- Relationship-wise, do you think you’re the best match?
- What do you know about him relationship-wise?
- Relationship-wise, I think you’d be a good couple.
- You shouldn’t look at him relationship-wise. He’s not right for you.
- I don’t think you’re the best relationship-wise to give advice.
- Relationship-wise, I’m clueless.
- Are you successful relationship-wise?
Most of the time, when we use a hyphen, we’re turning two closely linked words into an adjective to modify an object. However, this isn’t the case when using hyphenated words like “relationship-wise.”
“Relationship” is a noun, and “wise” is an adjective. When we combine them, the word “relationship-wise” is used as an adjective. Basically, we want to work out what someone is like or how they act in terms of a relationship, and that’s how the phrase is used. It’s a colloquial phrase and is rarely used in formal settings.
Should I Use A Hyphen? Is It “Relationship-Wise” Or “Relationship Wise”
As we’ve stated above, we use a hyphen to join two closely linked words with each other. When the hyphen is added to the two (or more) words, they make the words more manageable for the reader to comprehend. This means that people will have no problem reading the word “relationship-wise” and seeing that they’re talking about it in the adjective sense.
There are few situations where the unhyphenated phrase “relationship wise” would make sense, as we need to use it as an adjective when it is hyphenated. However, if you said something like “the man is relationship wise,” that would mean that the man is wise regarding matters to do with relationships.
That’s the only acceptable way to use it unhyphenated. You’ll often see the object is already mentioned in the sentence and doesn’t need to be modified, which is when we use unhyphenated forms.
While the hyphen rule is pretty easy to pick up, it can get confusing when looking at words that use the “-wise” suffix. That’s because the “-wise” suffix is designed to turn a word into a hyphenated word. Usually, two words are hyphenated even when it seems like they’re not intended to. However, “-wise” has to be hyphenated because the adjective it relates to makes no sense if it isn’t.
“Relationship-Wise” – Synonyms
Now that we’ve got most of the rules out of the way let’s look at some examples of synonyms. Synonyms are an excellent way to learn about new words and phrases by using different words with similar meanings.
Whether you’re unsure about using “relationship-wise” or you’re worried about misusing the hyphen, one of these alternatives will work much better for you. You’ll still convey your meaning just as well!
- Romantically
This is a simple synonym that relates to the same idea. It’s asking how people fair in romantic situations without worrying about including a hyphen to make a difference. You can also say something like “romantically-speaking,” but that’s an unnecessary addition to an already grammatically correct word.
- In terms of relationships
Rather than using the hyphenated form, you can say “in terms of relationships, how are you doing” or something similar if you want to. You’re replacing the hyphenated word with its direct meaning, which is a great way to use alternatives.
- Intimately
Just like “romantically,” we can ask someone how they get on “intimately,” with the idea that we’re asking them how they do in their relationships. This one is a little more direct and should only be used when you’re really close with the person you’re talking to.
Which Other Words Use The Suffix “-Wise”?
Finally, let’s look at some other words that use the suffix “-wise.” As we’ve stated earlier on, any nouns can be used before the suffix “-wise” to turn them into an adjective that means “in regards to.” That means we can talk about any aspect of someone’s life or doings by simply using the word “-wise” at the end of it.
This is one of the key benefits of using the hyphenated form in this way. It saves us a lot of time writing out different words or explaining meanings, as most people know what the suffix “-wise” means.
- School-wise
Relating to school.
- Work-wise
Relating to work.
- Word-wise
Relating to words.
- Time-wise
Relating to time.
You may also like: “Relationship To” vs. “Relationship With”: Correct Version (12 Examples)
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
