This is for writing software documentation that explains the usage of an optional property which some objects have. Except non is not an english word, it is a prefix of latin origin Which is why american style manuals will always ask you to merge it with the subsequent word, without a hyphen In case the answer is negative, is there any rule of thumb on which one may rely in order to recall whe. Thanks for the examples as well. Leaving non stranded doesn't work either as it is a bound morpheme, a prefix not a word (in english)
I'd use the two hyphens. I'm not sure if the hyphen is necessary or superfluous.
WATCH
