Should I use " related" or "-related"

Solution 1:

“Computer related” is a compound adjective and whether or not you should use a hyphen depends on where it is located in the sentence. If it appears before the word it modifies, include a hyphen. If after, omit the hyphen. This is mostly a clarification of Ex-user's answer. To use his/her examples, the following are both correct:

1. This book is computer related. (the noun being modified appears before the compound adjective)
2. This is a computer-related book. (the noun being modified appears after the compound adjective)

Use of hyphenated compound adjectives often prevents ambiguity of meaning (here's a good example), but when there can only be one meaning, hyphens may be omitted. I usually hyphenate anyway to be safe, and because it's one less thing to consider when writing. Additional usage information.

Solution 2:

Hyphenation is tricky. There are two cases:

1. This book is computer(*)related. (without a noun)

2. This is a computer(*)related book. (before a noun)

I think most authorities would say that 2. should be hyphenated. However, in case 1. it's not quite so clear. The Chicago Manual of Style says it should be open (not have a hyphen), as in

1. This book is computer related.

I believe this is the American style, whereas the British style is to add a hyphen regardless:

1. This book is computer-related.

It also says "the first place to look is in the dictionary".

Solution 3:

It is more proper to use computer-related. You are using a hyphen to combine two words that act as a single modifier together.

However, I think both ways are acceptable, because I don't know an example where not using the hyphen with these words causes ambiguity.