Reevaluation or Re-evaluation

A reevaluation or re-evaluation asks whether to write the word as a single unit or with a hyphen, but the choice also reflects style, clarity, and consistency. In the sentence “The team scheduled a reevaluation,” the is an article, team is a noun, scheduled is a verb in past tense, a is an article, and reevaluation is a noun; subject–verb agreement is correct because scheduled agrees with singular subject team.

Writers often see both forms — reevaluation (closed compound) and re-evaluation (hyphenated) — in dictionaries and publications, so it helps to analyze parts of speech, verb tenses, articles, prepositions, and modifiers to choose the best form. This article examines contextual examples, highlights common mistakes, compares American vs British English tendencies, reviews idiomatic expressions, and offers practical tips for consistent usage.

Throughout, sentences are checked for correct verb forms and subject–verb agreement, modifiers are placed for clarity, and awkward phrasing is revised to avoid fragments and run-ons. Use the guidance here to pick the form that suits your audience, style guide, and clarity needs.

Contextual Examples

Noun Usage in Simple Sentences

Sentence: “A reevaluation is scheduled for Friday.”

Parts of speech: A (indefinite article), reevaluation (noun), is scheduled (passive verb phrase, present tense), for (preposition), Friday (noun, proper).
Verb check: is scheduled correctly matches singular subject reevaluation. The passive voice emphasizes the event rather than the actor.

Sentence: “The committee called for a re-evaluation of the policy.”

Parts of speech: The (definite article), committee (noun), called (verb, past tense), for (preposition), a (article), re-evaluation (noun), of (preposition), the (article), policy (noun).
Verb check: called agrees with singular subject committee. The prepositional phrase of the policy clarifies the object of the reevaluation.

Verb Phrases With Derived Forms

Sentence: “We will reevaluate the data next week.”

Parts of speech: We (pronoun, plural), will reevaluate (future auxiliary + verb base), the (article), data (noun), next week (adverbial phrase).
Verb check: will reevaluate is correct future tense; reevaluate is the verb form derived from the noun. Subject–verb agreement is correct because will does not change with number.

Sentence: “They re-evaluated the proposal after new evidence arrived.”

Parts of speech: They (pronoun), re-evaluated (verb, past tense), the (article), proposal (noun), after (preposition), new (adjective), evidence (noun), arrived (verb, past tense).
Verb check: re-evaluated and arrived are both past tense and agree with their subjects. Use hyphenation in the past participle if your style guide prefers it.

Modifier Placement and Precision

Sentence: “A thorough reevaluation will improve outcomes.”

Parts of speech: A (article), thorough (adjective), reevaluation (noun), will improve (future verb phrase), outcomes (noun).
Verb check: will improve indicates future effect; subject is singular reevaluation, and the verb is properly formed.

Sentence: “They quickly re-evaluated priorities.”

Parts of speech: They (pronoun), quickly (adverb modifying re-evaluated), re-evaluated (verb, past), priorities (noun, plural).
Verb check: re-evaluated matches plural subject intended by context and the adverb quickly is placed directly before the verb it modifies.

Compound Noun Variations

Compare: “policy reevaluation” versus “policy re-evaluation.”

Parts of speech: policy (noun used as modifier), reevaluation/re-evaluation (noun).
Clarity note: When a noun modifies another noun, closed form policy reevaluation reads smoothly; hyphenated form policy re-evaluation can be used to signal separation or to follow a preferred house style.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Inconsistent Hyphenation Within a Document

Problem: Using reevaluation in one paragraph and re-evaluation in another creates inconsistency that distracts readers.

Fix: Choose one form based on your style guide (Chicago: often closed compounds; APA: usually hyphenated for prefix + noun? check current edition) and apply it consistently.

Mistake 2: Wrong Verb Form After Auxiliary

Error: “They will re-evaluated the plan.”

Why wrong: After will (auxiliary), use base form re-evaluate/reevaluate.
Correction: “They will re-evaluate the plan.” or “They will reevaluate the plan.”

Mistake 3: Misplaced Modifiers That Create Ambiguity

Error: “Only reevaluation will fix the issue.”

Ambiguity: Does only modify reevaluation (nothing else will fix it) or will fix (only will fix it)?
Revision for clarity: “Only a reevaluation will fix the issue.” or “A reevaluation alone will fix the issue.”

Mistake 4: Treating the Word as Both Noun and Verb Without Form Change

Error: “We scheduled a reevaluate.”

Why wrong: reevaluate is a verb, not a noun. Use reevaluation or re-evaluation for the noun.
Correction: “We scheduled a reevaluation.”

Mistake 5: Hyphenating Incorrectly After Prefixes

Some writers hyphenate unnecessarily: “re-evaluate” vs “reevaluate”. Both forms exist; follow your style guide. Avoid ad-hoc hyphenation that clashes with other prefixed words.

Mistake 6: Overusing the Term Without Context

Error: “We need reevaluation.” without specifying what to re-evaluate.

Better: “We need a reevaluation of the budget allocation.” Provide noun phrase to clarify object.

American vs British English Differences

Tendency Toward Closed or Hyphenated Forms

American English style guides vary: many modern American guides (Chicago Manual of Style) increasingly favor closed compounds like reevaluate and reevaluation for clarity and economy. Other guides (APA, house styles) may prefer re-evaluate and re-evaluation, especially where pronunciation or readability is a concern.
British English historically favored hyphenation with certain prefixes, but modern British usage (Oxford) also accepts the closed form reevaluate and reevaluation. Both varieties are moving toward simplification, but differences persist.

Style Guide Recommendations

Chicago Manual of Style: generally prefers closed compounds where common usage supports them; therefore reevaluate and reevaluation are often recommended.
Oxford and British dictionaries: list both hyphenated and closed forms; check the specific dictionary or in-house style.
Academic journals: follow journal-specific guidelines (some journals insist on hyphenation for clarity in compound words).

Practical Regional Notes

In practice, American publications now frequently use reevaluate and reevaluation, while some British outlets or academic publishers may retain re-evaluate and re-evaluation. The key is consistent use within a document and adherence to the relevant style guide.

Idiomatic Expressions

Common Collocations

“Undergo a reevaluation” — the phrase uses undergo (verb, base) + a (article) + reevaluation (noun). Example: “The program will undergo a reevaluation next quarter.”
“Call for a re-evaluation” — call for (phrasal verb), a (article), re-evaluation (noun). Example: “Experts call for a re-evaluation of the standards.”

Parts-of-speech note: In these expressions, verbs like undergo and call for pair naturally with the noun form; choose hyphenation consistent with style.

Technical and Medical Uses

In medical or technical contexts, reevaluation often appears in patient follow-up notes or design reviews: “A re-evaluation of symptoms is scheduled in two weeks.” Use precise modifiers: initial, interim, comprehensive to describe scope. Example: “a comprehensive reevaluation” (adjective + noun).

Legal and Policy Contexts

Legal documents may prefer hyphenation to avoid misreading: “This re-evaluation shall occur within 30 days.” In contracts, follow the legal style commonly used in the jurisdiction to ensure precision.

Practical Tips

Tip 1: Check Your House Style or Target Publication

Always consult the style guide you must follow (Chicago, APA, MLA, journal instructions). If no guide is specified, favor closed form reevaluation/reevaluate for modern readability, but be ready to hyphenate if pronunciation or clarity suggests it.

Tip 2: Be Consistent Within a Document

Once you choose reevaluation or re-evaluation, use it consistently across headings, body text, and captions. Consistency avoids reader distraction and maintains professional presentation.

Tip 3: Use the Correct Part of Speech

Remember that reevaluate/ re-evaluate (verb) and reevaluation/re-evaluation (noun) are distinct. Example:

Verb: “We will reevaluate the model.”
Noun: “A reevaluation of the model is planned.”

Tip 4: Place Modifiers Near What They Modify

Write “a careful reevaluation of the data” rather than “a reevaluation of the careful data”. Adjectives should sit next to the nouns they modify to avoid ambiguity.

Tip 5: Use Hyphenation to Avoid Misreading

If a closed form creates a visually confusing or misleading word sequence, hyphenate to guide the reader: “re-examine” is often clearer than “reexamine” in some contexts. Test both forms aloud and visually.

Tip 6: Watch Verb Forms After Auxiliaries

Remember auxiliaries: will reevaluate, have reevaluated, are reevaluating. Avoid incorrect combinations like “will reevaluated” or “has reevaluate.” Correct usage: “will reevaluate,” “has reevaluated,” “is reevaluating.”

Tip 7: Prefer Active Voice for Action-Oriented Sentences

Active: “The team will reevaluate the proposal.” Passive: “The proposal will be reevaluated by the team.” Use active voice for directness and passive for focusing on the object or for formal tone.

Tip 8: Use Clear Time Markers

When scheduling reevaluation events, include time markers: “initial, interim, annual, biennial.” Example: “An interim reevaluation will occur in six months.” This reduces ambiguity.

Tip 9: Edit for Parallel Structure

When listing steps, keep verb forms parallel: “review, reevaluate, revise, and report.” Parallel gerunds or infinitives improve readability.

Tip 10: Read Aloud to Catch Awkward Phrasing

Reading sentences aloud helps identify misplaced modifiers, tense mismatches, and awkward hyphenation choices. Make revisions until the sentence sounds natural and clear.

Conclusion

Choosing reevaluation or re-evaluation depends mainly on style preference, audience expectations, and clarity needs. Both forms function as nouns; the verb forms reevaluate and re-evaluate follow the same hyphenation choice. Check parts of speech in every sentence, ensure verbs match tense and subject, place articles and prepositions precisely, and position modifiers close to the words they modify.

Prefer consistency within a document, consult the relevant style guide, and use hyphenation only to improve readability when necessary. Active voice, correct auxiliary usage, and clear time markers make writing about reevaluation straightforward and professional. Apply the practical tips here to avoid common errors and present your reevaluation clearly and effectively.

FAQs

Q: What is the preferred form, “reevaluation” or “re-evaluation”?
A: Preference depends on your style guide. Many modern guides favor reevaluation (closed), but some publications and academic styles use re-evaluation (hyphenated). Choose one and use it consistently.
Q: Is “reevaluate” a verb and “reevaluation” a noun?
A: Yes. Reevaluate/re-evaluate is the verb form (to examine again). Reevaluation/re-evaluation is the noun (the act of examining again).
Q: Which spelling do American style guides prefer?
A: Many American guides (like Chicago) lean toward closed compounds (reevaluate, reevaluation), but always check your required style, as some academic journals prefer the hyphenated form.
Q: Can I hyphenate to avoid confusion?
A: Yes. Hyphenation (re-evaluate, re-evaluation) can improve readability in tricky phrases or in formal contexts where clarity is paramount.
Q: How do I form the past tense of “reevaluate”?
A: Use reevaluated or re-evaluated depending on your hyphenation choice. Example: “They reevaluated the budget.”
Q: Should I use “a reevaluation” or “reevaluation” without an article?
A: Use a reevaluation when you refer to a single instance: “A reevaluation is planned.” Use reevaluation without article in general statements: “Reevaluation is necessary.”
Q: Is “re-evaluate” ever wrong?
A: It is not wrong; it is a valid hyphenated form. The key is consistency and adherence to your chosen or required style guide.